NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, September 7, 1995

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

94-172 - Lake Meredith (Texas) - Follow-up on Homicide

On September 5th, B.F., 44, and her daughter, C.B., 23, were
found guilty of all federal charges filed against them in the death of B.D.B.,
including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and various
insurance fraud charges.  The star witness in the case was T.F., who
earlier had pled guilty to conspiracy to commit murder.  Other charges against
B.F. were dismissed on agreement that he give factual testimony against his
mother and sister.  All three will be sentenced in a few weeks.  B.F.
and C.B. could receive mandatory life sentences for their first
degree murder convictions.  [Larry Nielson, CR, LAMR]

95-531 - Grand Teton (Wyoming) - Follow-up on Special Event 

President Clinton and his family concluded their two-week stay in the Jackson
Hole area on Thursday, August 31st.  Among the concluding events was a night
camping trip on August 27th at the JY Ranch, a private inholding within the
park - believed to be the first time a President has camped in a tent in a
national park since Teddy Roosevelt's time.  The family boated across Jenny
Lake and took a five-mile round-trip hike in Cascade Canyon with park public
affairs officer Linda Olson the following day; they enjoyed classic mountain
panoramas, wildflowers, and up close and personal views of two bull moose.  The
Clintons made an appearance at the "Wheels Up" party on Wednesday evening to
offer personal thanks to the interagency management team for their assistance
and support throughout their vacation.  Incident commander Jim Northup
presented President Clinton with an "Incident Commander" vest at the gathering. 
The President thanked him, then said that he would have to start wearing it
around the office.  The President then spoke to those gathered about the
importance of national parks and how he wished that he could provide the
opportunity for every American child to see what he'd seen during his two week
vacation in Grand Teton and Yellowstone.  Those who participated in the event
agreed that President Clinton demonstrated a very strong and positive interest
in the national parks throughout his visit.  IC Jim Northup offers this summary
observation: "I can not recall a time in my career when a sitting President has
spent as much time focused on national parks - and when we have enjoyed as much
exposure as a result of a Presidential visit."  [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE; Jim
Northup, IC, Teton Challenge Incident]

95-583 - Virgin Island Parks - Follow-up on Hurricane Luis

As of 7:30 this morning, the park was still receiving strong winds (gusting to
45 mph) and heavy rains, although Hurricane Luis is now 200 miles northeast of
the islands.  Ocean swells on the Atlantic side of the island are running
between 9 and 12 feet; on the Caribbean side, they are from 5 to 6 feet.  The
park received some damage, but nothing major.  The superintendent reports minor
flooding, lots of trees down, and roof damage to the visitor center at Cruz
Bay, the old superintendent's house on Centerline Road, and buildings at Maho
Bay and Red Hook.  The storm should clear the area by tonight.  Only division
chiefs and essential employees are working today; all employees will be in
tomorrow.  The superintendent also feels that park staff will be able to handle
repairs and clean-up without outside help.  [Steve Smith, SEFA; Francis
Peltier, Superintendent, VIIS]


95-592 - Theodore Roosevelt (North Dakota) - Motorcycle-Horse Accident

On August 29th, J.A., the mayor of Medora, North Dakota, and J.P.,
daughter of former park chief ranger Bob J.P., took an early evening
drive on the South Unit's tour loop on J.A.'s Harley-Davidson motorcycle. 
Around 9:30 p.m., they came upon a band of wild horses.  The lead horse hit the
motorcycle, knocking J.A. and J.P. to the ground.  Despite suffering an
open dislocation of his tibia, J.A. attempted to drive the motorcycle back
to Medora.  He was unable to do so, however, and the bike fell over again, this
time onto his injured ankle.  J.P., who was uninjured, began a seven-mile run
back to a telephone, weaving her way past bison and rattlesnakes that she could
hear but not see.  Rangers and members of the county rescue squad responded and
transported J.A. to a local hospital.  He is expected to regain at least
partial use of his foot after additional reconstructive surgery.  The horse was
apparently uninjured.  [Jay Liggett, THRO]

FIRE ACTIVITY

1) NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II

2) LARGE FIRE SUMMARY

                                                    Wed     Thu   %   Est
State    Area                Fire         IMT       9/6     9/7  Con  Con  

 WA   Wenatchee NF       Chelan Cx         T1       565      605   20  CN 9/12

 OR   Malheur NF         Overhold          --       250      290   70  NEC

 CA   Shasta-Trin NF     French            T2       120       58  100  CND

 MT   Crow Agency        Crown Butte       T2       500      600   60  CN 9/8 
                         Little Big Horn   --     2,500    2,500  100  CND
      Lewiston Dis.      Dunn Ridge        T2     2,400      750   80  CN 9/8

 AZ   Phoenix Dis.     * Iron Mountain     --         -      300    0  CN 9/7

 WY   Worland Dis.       Ferris Creek      --       200       NR    -  NR 

 SD   State            * Indian Cyn        --         -    1,800   80  CN 9/6

HEADING NOTES:


Fire     * = newly reported fire (on this report).  Cx = complex.
IMT     T1 = Type 1; T2 = Type II; ST1 = state Type 1; ST2 = state Type 2.
% Con   Percent of fire contained.
Est Con Estimated containment date.  NEC = no estimated date of
        containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report.

3) FIRES YESTERDAY -

                NPS     BIA      BLM     FWS    States     USFS      Total

Number            3       7       25       0       256       79        370 
Acres Burned     30     430      750       0       275      682      2,167

4) COMMITTED RESOURCES -

               Crews     Engines     Helicopters     Airtankers     Overhead

Federal           94        93           36               0            193
Non-federal        3         2            1               0             18

5) COMPARATIVE SUMMARY -

                                      CY 1995            Five Year Average
                                    Year-to-Date           Year-to-Date

Number of Fires - U.S.                 67,503                  58,080     
Acres Burned - U.S.                 1,735,986               2,595,909 
Number of Fires - Canada                7,819                       -
Acres Burned - Canada              17,530,817                       -

6) SITUATION - Cooler temperatures have moderated fire activity in the
Northwest and the Rockies.  Resource mobilization decreased yesterday.  The
change in the track of Hurricane Luis led to the demobilization of the Type II
team that was standing by to provide any needed assistance to storm victims.

7) OUTLOOK - Fire activity is expected to remain moderate due to the arrival of
cooler air over the Northwest and northern Rockies.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 9/7]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

OBSERVATIONS

"One of the great ironies of the American park system is that it was assembled
without benefit of a blueprint.  What we enjoy today has been stitched together
over more than a century like a giant quilt - park by park - by the loving
hands of thousands of people who wanted to save something precious for their
children and grandchildren." 

                                          Stewart L. Udall, in Dwight Rettie's
                                          "Our National Park System: Caring for
                                          America's Greatest Natural and
                                          Historic Treasures" 

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

Telephone: 202-208-4874
Telefax:   202-208-6756
cc:Mail:   WASO Ranger Activities
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