NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, July 14, 1998

INCIDENTS

98-346 - Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (MO) - Fourth of July Events

The 18th consecutive Fair St. Louis was held on park grounds and surrounding
streets between Friday, July 3rd, and Sunday, July 5th.  Several hundred
thousand people attended the event, which featured free entertainment, food
and drink sales, sports challenges, and other activities aimed at a family
audience.  Each day culminated in a fireworks display.  The event was marred
by a severe storm on the afternoon of the first day, which resulted in 10
injuries and cancellation of the fair for that evening.  The fair continued
on Saturday and Sunday with high attendance.  Only seven arrests were made
during the course of the event, all of them alcohol related.  Midwest and
Pacific West SET teams, along with rangers from other parks, supplemented the
park's staff and helped manage the event.  Director Stanton and Midwest
regional director Bill Schenck attended all three days of the event.  [Rod
Danner, CR, JEFF, 7/13]

98-378 - Chaco Culture NHP (NM) - Rescue

On July 9th, J.M., 19, of Maitland, Florida, attempted to climb
a sandstone cliff near the park's campground.  J.M., who is not an
experienced climber, used neither ropes nor a belay.  As he neared the summit
of the cliff, the weak sandstone broke from beneath him and he fell about 65
feet.  J.M.'s friends notified the park; rangers and EMTs responded. 
They were surprised to find him in relatively good shape.  He was stabilized,
then flown to a hospital in Farmington, where he was treated for several
severe lacerations to his legs and feet, a broken bone in his wrist, and a
bruised kidney.  J.M. said that he slid down the cliff face feet first,
narrowly missing several large jagged rocks at the base.  Climbing is
prohibited throughout the park because the rock is friable.  No citations
were issued - just a $3,000 bill for the cost of the helicopter.  [CHCU,
7/11]

98-379 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Attempted Suicide; Crisis Negotiation

On the morning of June 24th, a man called 911 to report that he was going to
commit suicide.  The call came from the trailer court in El Portal, which is
on the NPS administrative site just outside the park's boundary.  Criminal
investigator Fred Elchlepp called the residence and was able to contact the
man after several attempts.  The man said he was very depressed about being
unemployed, that he'd attempted to hang himself minutes earlier, and that he
was ready to die.  Responding El Portal rangers took cover outside the
residence, as the man told Elchlepp that he had a shotgun in his house. 
After several more minutes of negotiations with Elchlepp, the man agreed to
surrender to the rangers.  He was instructed to walk out onto his front porch
and follow the commands of the rangers on scene.  He was taken into
protective custody without incident.  [Dan Horner, YOSE, 7/10]

98-380 - National Capital Parks (DC) - Attempted Suicide; Rescue

On the afternoon of July 8th, Park Police officers were notified that a woman
had jumped from Key Bridge and fallen over 100 feet into the Potomac River. 
The Park Police helicopter and ground units responded and found the teenaged
girl in the Potomac River near the support closest to the Virginia side of
the river.  She appeared to be going under.  Officers Franz Ferstl and
William Doerrler entered the water and made their way to the girl, who was
about 100 yards away.  Her face was only slightly above the water when they
reached her.  They supported her until a boat from the district's harbor unit
could reach the scene.  She was taken to a hospital for treatment.  Neither
officer was injured.  [Henry Berberich, RLES, NCRO, 7/10]

98-381 - Natchez Trace Parkway (MS/AL/TN) - Attempted Suicide

On July 10th, a maintenance worker saw a man lying near the highway, waving
for assistance.  The employee found that the man had an apparent gunshot
wound to his head and immediately called for assistance.  Rangers and others
responded and had the man taken to a hospital.  A small caliber weapon was
recovered.  Investigation revealed that he'd been involved in several
burglaries prior to the incident.  [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 7/12]

98-382 - Chickasaw NRA (OK) - Drowning

Rangers were notified of a person with a head injury at Little Niagara on
Travertine Creek on the afternoon of July 9th.  CPR was underway on 20-year-
old N.L. of Sulphur, Oklahoma, when rangers arrived.  They assisted
with CPR while N.L. was transported to Arbuckle Memorial Hospital, but he
did not survive.  Witnesses said that they saw him dive into the water and
surface with no apparent problem.  About 20 minutes later, several juveniles
found his body while swimming near the center of the pool.  Foul play is not
suspected.  The medical examiner declined an autopsy, but a blood toxicology
test is being performed.  Little Niagara is a popular swimming spot in the
park.  [CR, CHIC, 7/10]

98-383 - Rock Creek Park (DC) - Assault

On Wednesday, July 8th, J.R. was assaulted by a man with a knife in
Asbury Park within Rock Creek Park.  He was taken to a hospital and treated
for a laceration on his hand.  USPP officer David Leguillo's investigation
led him to a man named O.C., who Leguillo had talked to the day
before at the same location.  When Leguillo contacted him, O.C. still had
the knife and a bloody shirt in his possession.  O.C., who has no fixed
address, was transported back to the scene of the assault, where he was
positively identified by two witnesses.  O.C. was arrested and charged with
assault with a deadly weapon.  [Henry Berberich, RLES, NCRO, 7/13]

98-384 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - Marijuana Eradication

On July 1st, park trail crews working in the Rich Mountain section of Moses
Cone Memorial Park discovered two plots of small marijuana plants on an old
roadbed that was being cleared for use as a hiking/horseback riding trail. 
Rangers Hope Powers and Brent Pennington and a Watuga County officer checked
the area on the following afternoon.  The two plots were located in an
overgrown portion of the old road bed.  One contained nine plants; the other
had 22 plants, averaging a foot and a half tall.  Both plots were enclosed
with chicken wire and each plant was set in what appeared to be fresh potting
soil.  A search of the area revealed other areas that had been cleared in the
past and may have been used for marijuana cultivation.  The sites were
photographed, GPS coordinates were obtained for future reference, and the
plants and enclosures were collected and removed.  If harvested at maturity,
the plans would have had an approximate street value of just over $37,000. 
[Brent Pennington, DR, Highlands District, BLRI, 7/10]

98-385 - Harpers Ferry NHP (MD/WV/VA) - Fatal Bicycling Accident

On July 12th, G.R, 63, of Centereach, New York, died as a result
of head injuries he'd sustained in an accident in the park two days
previously.  G.R. has been bicycling downhill at a high rate of speed when
he apparently locked his breaks, lost control, and struck his head.  He was
not wearing a helmet.  Ranger Melissa Hancock is investigating.  [Henry
Berberich, RLES, NCRO, 7/13]

98-386 - Baltimore Washington Parkway (MD) - MVA with Fatality

G.B., 27, of Brooklyn, New York, was heading northbound on the
parkway at a high rate of speed around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 11th,
when he lost control of his vehicle.  It crossed into the southbound lane,
struck another vehicle, then continued into the woods, where it came to rest. 
G.B. was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.  The
driver of the other vehicle sustained only minor injuries.  [Henry Berberich,
RLES, NCRO, 7/13]

                       [Additional reports pending...]

FIRE ACTIVITY

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III

LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY 

                                                     Sun      Mon    %   Est
State      Unit             Fire/Incident     IMT    7/12     7/13  Con  Con

FL   State                  Suwanee Cx        T1   36,508   36,508   90  NEC 
                            Flagler/StJohn Cx T1   92,986   94,656   NR  NEC
                            Withlacoochee     T2    3,134    3,134   95  7/14
                            Jacksonville 2    T1   16,163   16,163   90  NEC
                            Perry Cx          T2   20,400   20,400  100  CND 

GA   Okefenokee NWR         Honey Scrub       T1    3,100    7,216    0  NEC
                          * Billy's East      --        -      230    0  NEC

TX   State                  Ft. Davis Cx      --    1,350    1,350   92  7/13
                          * Wayman Chapel     --        -      110   80  7/13
                          * Hart Ranch        --        -      200  100  CND 

UT   Salt Lake District   * Tekoi             --        -    1,200   30  7/14
     Cedar City District  * Barn              --        -    1,500    0  NEC 
   
WA   Dungeness NWR          Avery             --    3,500    3,200  100  NR
        
                                  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; UNK = unknown
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

Friday, 7/10         0     13         9       1      219     39       291
Saturday, 7/11       4      3        22       3      115     69       216
Sunday, 7/12         1      5        13       0       97     48       164
Monday, 7/13         1      2        26       2      286     34       351

TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND) 

                  Crews     Engines    Helicopters    Airtankers   Overhead

Friday, 7/10       152        634         108             2         1,747 @
Saturday, 7/11     120        557          88            11         1,715 @
Sunday, 7/12       114        528         112            13         1,667 @
Monday, 7/13        93        562         106            21         1,611 @

@ Resource reports were not received from many fires in the South.

CURRENT SITUATION

Large fires continued to burn in the South yesterday.  Fire activity
increased in the eastern Great Basin.

Very high and extreme fire indices were reported in Florida, Georgia, Texas,
New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, California, and Nevada.

NICC has not posted any fire watches or warnings for today.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 7/14]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

MEMORANDA

No entries.

EXCHANGE

Recruitment/Diversity Video - Copies of Death Valley NP's recruitment/
diversity video were mailed to all regions, clusters and parks on July 7th. 
One video was sent to each address, so parks or offices that share the same
address received only one copy.  If you're interested in a copy, contact Toni
Moran at DEVA at 760-786-3269.  An open-captioned copy is available for loan
from the park's personnel office, which can be reached at 760-786-3273. 

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming weeks
on matters pertaining to the National Park Service or kindred agencies.  For
inquiries regarding legislation pertaining to the NPS, please contact the
main office at 202-208-5883/5656 and ask to be forwarded to the appropriate
legislative specialist.

HEARINGS/MARK-UPS

Wednesday, July 15

House Resources Committee: Hearing on Endangered Species Act.

Thursday, July 16

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands: Hearing on:

o     H.R. 3981, to modify the boundaries of George Washington Birthplace NM,
      and for other purposes;
o     H.R. 4109, to authorize Gateway Visitor Center at Independence NHP, and
      for other purposes;
o     H.R. 4141, to amend the act authorizing Chattahoochee River NRA to
      modify the boundaries of the park, and to provide for the protection of
      lands, waters, and natural, cultural, and scenic resources within the
      park, and for other purposes; and
o     H.R. 4158, to authorize the private ownership and use of certain
      secondary structures and surplus lands administered as part of any
      national historical park that are not consistent with the purposes for
      which the park was established, if adequate protection of natural,
      aesthetic, recreational, cultural, and historical values is assured by
      appropriate terms, covenants, conditions or reservations.

House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health: Oversight hearing
on regional haze.

Thursday, July 23

House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health and Senate Energy
Subcommittee on Forests and Public Land Management: Oversight hearing on
White House control of forest policy.

Tuesday, July 28

House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health: Oversight hearing
on NEPA parity.

House Resources Committee: Hearing on H.R. 3987, to protect and conserve deer
and elk and to provide for consistent and equitable hunting laws in the state
of Washington.

Thursday, July 30

House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health: Oversight hearing
on GAO study on fire suppression.

FLOOR ACTION

The House is scheduled to take up the Interior appropriations bill this
Thursday and Friday.  

                                *  *  *  *  *

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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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