NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, April 21, 1999

INCIDENTS

99-130 - Joshua Tree NP (CA) - Rescue
     
On April 10th, rangers received a report of a fall in the Rattlesnake Canyon
area of Indian Cove.  T.L., 27, had fallen over 25 feet while
bouldering.  Rangers Kevin Tillman and Pete Roehrs responded along with
medics from the local ambulance company, hiking in over extremely difficult
terrain.  They found that T.L. had suffered multiple injuries to his ankles
and back.  The terrain prevented a helicopter landing and a ground evacuation
would have required multiple technical lowerings, so the park called in the
San Bernadino County air rescue unit for a long line hoist evacuation.  T.L.
was successfully evacuated through a raising that was in excess of 500 feet. 
[Patrick Suddath, IC, JOTR, 4/17]

99-131 - Biscayne NP (FL) - Illegal Aliens
     
Twenty illegal immigrants from Cuba came ashore by vessel on Elliott Key
around 4:30 a.m. on April 3rd.  Ranger Tom Rutledge located and detained 19
of them by 9:30 a.m. with the assistance of the Border Patrol and Coast
Guard.  They were subsequently turned over to INS authorities.  The last
missing immigrant was found on the key that afternoon and turned over to the
Border Patrol. [CRO, BISC, 4/19]

99-132 - Oklahoma City NM (OK) - Special Event

On Monday, April 19th, a remembrance ceremony was held on the fourth 
anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building.  The
blast killed 168 people, the majority of whom were federal employees. 
Following 168 seconds of silence, the names of the victims were read by their
agency representatives as family members dropped single red roses onto the
now leveled site of the building.  Invocations for those who were killed,
those who survived, and those who were changed forever were given by local
ministers.  Ceremonies also included inspirational songs, prayers and healing
messages.  Attending were about 500 family members, survivors, and rescue
workers, the governor and lieutenant governor, and First Lady Hillary
Clinton.  The event was coordinated with the Oklahoma City Police Department,
Federal Protective Service, FBI, Red Cross, and the Oklahoma Capital Police. 
Motorcycle, horse-mounted, bicycle, and foot patrol officers were used at the
site.  Media coverage from all of the major networks was extensive, with
satellite trucks filling one of the closed city streets next to the memorial. 
The outside, symbolic portion of the memorial is under construction and is on
track for dedication on the fifth anniversary.  The memorial center museum is
currently being designed and is scheduled to open in the late fall of 2000. 
More information and monthly construction update photos may be found on the
Memorial Foundation's website at www.oklahoman.net/connections/memorial.
[Mark Foust, CR, OKCI, 4/19]

FIRE ACTIVITY

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level I

LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY 

                                                     Sun      Mon    %   Est
State      Unit              Fire/Incident   IMT     4/19     4/20  Con  Con

FL   Okefenokee NWR        * Hickory Island   --        -   33,848   12  NR 
     Florida NFs           * Owl Creek        --        -      550   75  NR
                           * Cow House        --        -      100   50  NR

VA   Prince William FP     * NCO Fire         T2        -      670   98  NR

NC   North Carolina NFs    * Singecat         --        -      150   NR  NR

SC   Marion/Sumter NFs     * Tibwin           --        -      125  100  CND

OR   Willamette NF         * Puma             --        -      210   80  4/20

WA   Spokane Agency        * Rattlesnake II   --        -      100  100  CND

CO   Craig District        * Ebler            T3        -      310   50  4/20

                                  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; LSS =
            limited suppression strategy; CSS = containment suppression
            strategy
IMT         T1 = Type 1; 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; LPS = limited
            protection status

FIRE NARRATIVES

Prince William FP (VA) - Two wildfires which started at locations
approximately six miles apart quickly spread to an estimated 300 acres each
on Wednesday, April 14th.  Both fires were located on special use permit
lands bordering the Marine Corps base at Quantico. These are park lands under
permit to the Marine Corps for training purposes.  The first fire near the
South Fork of Quantico Creek was controlled at 300 acres.  The second - the
NCO Fire - was located just west of Quantico National Cemetery.  It was
almost contained Friday before afternoon winds gusting to 35 mph caused the
fire to jump the line and run for another 100 acres before nightfall.  The
weather has since been more cooperative.  The NCO Fire has mainly been a
ground fire, though burning in an area of extensive gypsy moth kill.  Snags
are a major safety and tactical issue.  The fire is 98% contained at 670
acres.  Up to 141 firefighters from nine agencies, including a Type II team,
are working at suppressing the fire.  This is the largest fire in park
history.  The mop up stage began Monday evening.  No injuries have been
reported. [Art Webster, PIO, PRWI, 4/20]

NUMBER OF NEW FIRES LAST WEEK         

                    NPS    BIA      BLM     FWS    States   USFS     Total

Sunday, 4/20         0      4         4       0      589     35       632

TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES 

                  Crews     Engines    Helicopters    Airtankers   Overhead

Sunday, 4/20        24         79          21             0           127


CURRENT SITUATION

Large fires and initial attack operations continue in the South.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 4/20]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

Lake Meredith NRA (TX) - Prescribed Fire

The park successfully conducted its first-ever prescribed fire on April 8th. 
Approximately 500 acres of mesquite and prairie grass were burned between a
campground and private land.  The work was done with the help of the burn
module team from Bandelier NM.  Three park engines were used, and were
augmented by engines from the Fritch and Stinnett volunteer fire departments. 
The event was covered by local media.  Two more burns are scheduled during
the prescription period.  [Mike Davin, FMO, LAMR]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

No entries.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

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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