NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, August 27, 1998

INCIDENTS

98-520 - Kings Canyon NP (CA) - Follow-up on Search in Progress

Rangers began searching for D.C., 51, and his 22-year-old son,
C.C., on August 17th after the two failed to return from a backcountry trip
to the Rae Lakes/60 Lakes Basin.  The two men were found alive and unhurt on
August 21st.  They were near Mist Falls, which is at the confluence of
Gardiner Creek and the South Fork of the Kings River, about ten air miles
west of the area where they'd last been seen.  They had attempted to travel
cross-country over Gardiner Pass to Charlotte Lake, but lost the route and
ended up following Gardiner Creek down to the falls.  Steep cliffs prevented
them from going further.  Even though they are experienced backcountry
travelers, they'd become disoriented and were not certain of their exact
location.  Approximately 70 people, a dog team and two helicopters were
assigned to the search.  Many agencies and organizations contributed to the
search effort.  [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 8/24]

98-526 - East Coast Areas - Follow-up on Hurricane Bonnie

As Hurricane Bonnie makes slow progress to the north, North Carolina areas
are preparing for recovery operations.  Southeast Region's lead Type 2 team
(Bob Panko, IC) is currently en route to Raleigh to meet with the staffs of
Cape Lookout NS and Cape Hatteras NS; the Fort Sumter Group has dispatched
maintenance workers and equipment to help out at Moores Creek NB.  Additional
reports have also been received from the affected parks:

o     Moores Creek NB - The eye of the hurricane was passing over the park
      when the report was filed at 10:30 p.m. last night.  Hurricane force
      winds were expected in the area (just west of Wilmington) through this
      morning.  One family remained in the park, but couldn't be reached by
      phone; all other park staff have phone service and are fine.  Power is
      out throughout the area.

o     Cape Hatteras NS - About 80 employees and family members are currently
      housed at a Ramada Inn in Raleigh.  Deputy IC Chris Bernthal held a
      meeting with all employees and families last night to review the
      hurricane's status, explain the ICS operation, and discuss procedures
      for returning to the park.  At the time of the report (9 p.m.),
      forecasters were predicting that winds would diminish to tropical force
      or lower for most of Dare County today, that rainfall was not expected
      to cause any problems in the county, and that sound-side flooding would
      be two to three feet above normal.  If the forecast held true, county
      officials said that they would lift all restrictions on returning to
      the area this morning.  Significant erosion is expected on south facing
      beaches.

o     Cape Lookout NS - An employee who remained on the barrier island
      checked the headquarters area last night and found no damage, but this
      was before high tide, which was scheduled to occur around midnight.  

Parks in the track of Hurricane Bonnie are urged to transmit reports on storm
preparations or impacts to this cc:Mail address at their earliest
convenience.  [Ken Garvin, SERO, 8/27; Ann Childress, Superintendent, MOCR,
8/26; Bob Woody, CAHA, 8/26]

98-535 - Salinas Pueblos Missions NM (NM) - Serious Employee Injury

On August 10th, ranger B.H. was seriously injured in a head-on motor
vehicle accident.  He has been hospitalized ever since.  A letter from his
parents to the park is cited in yesterday's edition of the "Intermountain
Morning Line," the region's public affairs newsletter; it contains a report
on his status.  Excerpts follow: "B.H. is progressing each day, which is
encouraging, although it is a very slow process.  While he has lots of breaks
and fractures, his vital organs and brain are not injured.  He is now off the
ventilator, and has a very slight temperature from time to time.  He is able
to move both legs and arms, although the arms are in casts and one leg has
broken bones.  B.H. has had five surgeries on his arms, legs and jaw, and we
are hoping that this is all the surgery he will need.  Because of the jaw
surgery, his jaw is wired shut and will remain that way for another week and
a half.  He had a temporary tracheotomy put in to assist his breathing.  For
a while he was on a ventilator, but now he is off that and breathing on his
own...We don't know what the next steps are for B.H., exactly.  Probably he
will be in the Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit for a while longer, then
be moved to a medical floor here at University Hospital.  After that,
hopefully he will be ready to go to a rehab facility to learn to use his arms
and legs again.  Whatever the steps, it will be a long recuperation
process...Anyone who would like to send cards and get well wishes to B.H. can
send them to: B.H., c/o University Hospital, Trauma Surgical ICU, 221
Lomas NE, Albuquerque NM 87106." [Intermountain Morning Line, 8/26]

89-536 - Grand Teton NP (WY) - Rescue

On the afternoon of August 14th, L.K., 40, of Houston, Texas, suffered
serious injuries in a 120-foot fall while descending from a climb on Baxter's
Pinnacle.  Rangers responded on foot.  The park's contract helicopter
attempted a late evening short-haul extrication, but the mission had to be
aborted.  The ensuing night-time rescue required, successively, a 1,500-foot
litter lower, a litter carryout, transportation by a wheeled litter, a
shuttle across Jenny Lake by boat, transportation from the dock to a helibase
by the park ambulance, and a flight to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical
Center.  L.K. was treated for head injuries, fractured vertebrae, a
separated and fractured sternum, four rib fractures, surgical fractures of
the wrist and lower leg, and multiple lacerations and contusions.  He remains
in intensive care.  Forty-one people were involved in the rescue effort. 
[Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 8/24]

89-537 - Zion NP (UT) - Rescue

W.H., 56, jumped off a five-foot ledge into the Left Fork of North
Creek on August 22nd, severely injuring his ankle.  Hikers with W.H. moved
him to an open area, then sent for help.  Responding rangers stabilized
W.H. and remained with him overnight.  He was short-hauled out of the
canyon by the Grand Canyon NP helicopter on the morning of the 23rd.  [Scott
Brown, IC, ZION, 8/24]

                        [Numerous reports pending...]

FIRE ACTIVITY

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II

LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY 

                                                     Tue      Wed    %  Est
State      Unit             Fire/Incident     IMT    8/25     8/26  Con Con

ID   Salmon-Challis NF      Main Salmon Cx    FUT  10,989   11,161    0 10/15
                            North Fork Cx     T1    7,055    7,220   90 8/27
                            Laid Low          T2      600    1,400   33 8/30
     Nez Perce NF         * Moose Cx          FUT       -      190    0 NEC

MT   Bitterroot NF          West Fork Fires   FUT   1,485    1,485    0 NEC
                            Pack Trail        T2       95       95   80 8/27
     Blackfeet Agency       Milk River        --      500      500  100 CND 

NC   State                  Hurricane Bonnie  T2    Distribution center ops
                            Hurricane Bonnie  T2    Distribution center ops
                  
                                  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; FUT = Interagency
            Fire Use Management 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

Sunday, 8/23         0      6        11       0       79     73       169
Monday, 8/24         2      4         7       0       92     72       177
Tuesday, 8/25        0      1        15       0      122     67       205
Wednesday, 8/26      5      9        12       0       61     36       123

TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND) 

                  Crews     Engines    Helicopters    Airtankers   Overhead

Sunday, 8/23       138        291         103             4           981
Monday, 8/24       110        290          95             4           636
Tuesday, 8/25       89        228          77             5           721
Wednesday, 8/26     80        212          76             2           728

CURRENT SITUATION

Only minimal initial attack activity was reported yesterday.

Very high and extreme fire indices were reported yesterday in Texas, Arizona,
Utah, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming and South Dakota.

No fire watches or warnings have been posted for today.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 8/27]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

Great Smoky Mountains NP (TN/NC) - Record Ozone Levels

On August 25th, ozone levels at the park reached the highest mark recorded
since 1984.  The station at Look Rock recorded an eight-hour average of 123
ppb, with a peak level of 135 ppb at 4 p.m.  This level is considered
unhealthful, and was the 25th time this year that air over the park has
exceeded the national ambient air quality standards (defined as an eight-hour
average which is 50% higher than the standard designed to protect public
health).  Nearby Chattanooga and Knoxville also recorded very high levels of
ozone - 136 ppb and 149 ppb, respectively.  Those wanting up to the minute
information on air quality in the park can check the park's web site link at
www.aqd.nps.gov/ard1/parks/grsm/LookRockWeather.htm.  [Jim Renfro, GRSM;
Chris Shaver, DSC]

PARK DISPATCHES

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

FY98 Uniform Closeout - Uniform orders placed against FY98 allowances must be
postmarked to R&R Uniforms no later than September 21st or faxed to R&R no
later than September 25th.  Consolidated Uniform Allowance Reports (CUARs),
which are required to activate FY99 accounts for permanent employees, are due
to R&R by September 1st.  For further information regarding closeout
procedures, please see the July 16th memorandum transmitted to all regional
uniform program coordinators and park uniform program administrators.  [Meg
Leffel, RAD/WASO]

Cultural Resource Awards - The FY99 cultural resource training initiative
awards have been announced.  A total of 23 proposals were selected for
funding; they included the following: "Native American Ceramics: A Preventive
Maintenance Workshop," "Project Archeology Teacher/Facilitator Training
Workshops for Four Communities in Alaska," "Discovering the Cultural
Landscapes of Coastal Communities," and "A Handbook for the Treatment of
Historic Fortifications."  A complete list of funded projects is available
upon request from Michael Auer at NP-WASO-HPS.  [Michael Auer]

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

Posters - Indiana Dunes NL is seeking copies of the "Report Vandalism/Secure
Your Valuables" poster that was developed in the late 1970s.  If you still
have any around, please contact chief ranger Richard Littlefield at NP-INDU.

                                *  *  *  *  *

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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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