NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Friday, May 8, 1998

INCIDENTS

97-127 - Valley Forge NHP (Pennsylvania) - Follow-up: Attempted Kidnapping

On March 26, 1997, J.M. attempted to abduct a park visitor while she
was walking on the park's multi-purpose path.  He was arrested and charged
under state criminal statutes.  On the anniversary of the incident, J.M. was
sentenced to 10 to 20 years in state prison for attempted kidnapping.  J.M.
has prior convictions for attempted rape and burglary.  [CRO, VAFO, 5/8]

98-187 - Department of Interior (DC) - Follow-up: Fire and Evacuation

The Interior building, which was evacuated on Wednesday due to a smokey fire
in an elevator shaft and closed on Thursday, reopened for business this
morning.  [Bob Marriott, RAD/WASO, 5/8]

98-191 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Death of Employee

Duane Stricklin, who managed the park's warehouse operation, died in his
sleep on the morning of May 5th while visiting relatives in Missouri.  Duane
had worked at the park since January, 1989; prior to joining the NPS, he'd
worked for the Defense Logistics Agency and the Navy.  Services will be held
at the Shrine of the Ages at Grand Canyon at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 12th. 
Condolences may be sent to Museum Curator, PO Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ
86023.  Duane is survived by his wife, N., who is a program assistant for
the interpretive division, and by three children and several grandchildren. 
[Carolyn Richard, GRCA, 5/7]

98-192 - U.S.S. Arizona Memorial (HI) - Boat Accident

The Navy shuttle boat which carries visitors from the visitor center to the
U.S.S. Arizona had a cable break as it was approaching the memorial on the
morning of April 29th.  This resulted in the loss of the port engine, which
meant that the boat's operators could not maneuver and consequently drifted
onto and into the Arizona's smoke stack.  Some of the 150 passengers on board
at the time were off-loaded before the boat was freed from the stack.  No one
was injured.  Navy divers and Deborah King, the park's dive officer,
attempted to assess the damage that afternoon, but visibility was very poor. 
Photos and videotapes taken over the next two days revealed the damage, which
was very evident but appeared to be minimal.  No attempts will be made to
repair the damage.  This is the first time in the 18 years since the NPS
assumed operational control of the memorial that a shuttle has caused any
damage to this historic ship.  [Randy Wester, CR, USAR, 5/7] 

98-193 - Olympic NP (WA) - Resource Violations

While on patrol near the Sol Duc Road on April 27th, a ranger saw three men
standing next to two vans with numerous light brown bags sitting on the
ground around them.  The ranger first checked for weapons and identification
(the men had neither), then asked if there were any others with them.  He was
advised that there were another four men in the forest.  When the ranger
contacted them, he found that one was carrying a bag of moss.  Six more bags
of moss, each weighing 75 pounds, were found in the area.  The men had
another 50 unused bags in their possession.  All had current Forest Service
forest product permits for the adjoining national forest.  The ranger
accordingly showed them the park's boundary signs.  Although the men spoke
only Spanish, he pointed out that the signs are bilingual and that they
explain in Spanish that it's illegal to take forest products from the park.
They were cited for resource theft.  [Curt Sauer, CR, OLYM, 4/28]

                    [Additional reports pending...]

FIRE ACTIVITY

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II

LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY 

                                                      Wed      Thu   %   Est
State      Unit              Fire/Incident   IMT      5/6      5/7  Con  Con

                    *** No significant fires reported ***

Heading Notes

Unit      Agency = BIA area; NF = national forest; RU = CA state resource
          or ranger unit; RD = state ranger district; District = BLM
          district; NWR = USFWS wildlife refuge
Fire      * = newly reported fire (on this report); Cx = complex
IMT       T1 = Type I; T2 = Type II; ST = State Team
% Con     Percent of fire contained
Est Con   Estimated containment date; NEC = no estimated date of
          containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report

NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FOUR DAY TREND) 

                    NPS    BIA      BLM     FWS    States   USFS     Total

Monday, 5/4          0      6         1       0       86      4        97
Tuesday, 5/5         0      2         0       0       28      7        37
Wednesday, 5/6       0      9         0       0       58     35       102
Thursday, 5/7        0      7         7       0       43     15        72

TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND) 

                  Crews     Engines    Helicopters    Airtankers   Overhead

Monday, 5/4          7          8           2             0             1
Tuesday, 5/5        14          5           1             0            51
Wednesday, 5/6      20         28           3             0            71
Thursday, 5/7       14         28           1             0            33

CURRENT SITUATION

Only moderate initial attack was reported yesterday.  Very high and extreme
fire indices were reported in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Texas, New
Mexico and Arizona.

NICC has posted a FIRE WEATHER WATCH for increasing winds and continued dry
conditions in southern New Mexico.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 5/8]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Kalaupapa NHP (HI) - Birth of Monk Seal 

On the morning of May 7th, park staff noted a monk seal with a new-born pup
on one of the park's white sand beaches.  Monk seals are a critically
endangered species, with only 1,200 worldwide.  According to park wildlife
biologist Rick Potts, the pup appears to be strong and healthy.  This is the
only recorded live birth in the eight main islands this year, and is the
second Hawaiian monk seal birth in the park.  Last year's pup, born on April
13, 1997, was successfully weaned and tagged and has been observed several
times on the beaches around Kalaupapa.  The community of Kalaupapa has taken
great pride in this birth and is assisting the park in protecting the two
seals.  [Eric Beckert, PR, KALA, 5/7]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

MEMORANDA

No entries.

EXCHANGE

No entries.

                     *  *  *  *  *

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

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