NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Monday, May 15, 2000

                           *** NOTICE ***

Per order of the Department of Interior, all flags are to be lowered 
to half-staff today for Peace Officers Memorial Day. Flags will be 
returned to full staff tomorrow morning.

ALMANAC

On this date in 1862, Confederates at Drewry's Bluff repulsed an 
attack by five Union vessels, including the ironclad Monitor, that 
were steaming up the James River to bombard Richmond, Virginia.  
Drewry's Bluff is part of Richmond National Battlefield Park.

INCIDENTS

00-204 - Haleakala NP (HI) - Assault on Ranger

Ranger Greg Moss investigated a report of disorderly conduct at the 
Air Force's Maui Space Surveillance Site adjacent to the park summit 
on the evening of April 30th. J.R.J., the person causing the 
problem, was known to park, county and military law enforcement 
officers for aberrant and threatening behavior, including threats to 
defense facilities. While en route to the scene, Moss learned that 
J.R.J. had grabbed a visitor, told him that he was "security" for the 
site, and had ordered him to leave. This was followed by another 
complaint from members of a commercial astronomy tour group. While 
awaiting local police backup, Moss parked his patrol car across the 
summit overlook exit.  J.R.J. charged Moss with his vehicle, with the 
hood still raised, and gave no indication of slowing or attempting to 
avoid the patrol vehicle. Moss narrowly evaded collision, then gave 
chase and stopped and arrested J.R.J. J.R.J. is presently being 
held without bail. He is awaiting competency testing and grand jury 
indictments for assault, DUI and several other charges. This is the 
third assault on park rangers at Haleakala within a year.  All have 
been drug or alcohol related.   (Kerry Buck, ADR, HALE, 4/12)

00-205 - Joshua Tree NP (CA) - Poaching

On May 6th, rangers Jeff Ohlfs and John Evans caught E.J. 
of Mancos, Colorado, and J.D. of Orange, California, using 
an artificial light in the park to view reptiles.  During the 
subsequent investigation, the rangers found two rosy boas and a banded 
gecko in their vehicle.  Both men were cited; the reptiles were 
photographed and released.  Additional charges may be filed by 
California Department of Fish and Game and by the Fish and Wildlife 
Service based on additional information obtained during the contact 
regarding license fraud and interstate trafficking. [Judy Bartzatt, 
CR, JOTR, 5/12]

FIRE ACTIVITY

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III

CURRENT SITUATION

Two of the large fires burning in the Southwest - the Cree and 
Manuelitas fires - have been contained, but crews throughout the area 
are preparing for a wind event which is forecast for this afternoon 
and tomorrow. Initial attack was reported in the Southwest and  South. 

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday: 138 
crews (up from 109 on Thursday), 166 engines, 35 helicopters, 25 air 
tankers (up from four on Thursday), and 807 overhead personnel (up 
from 554). 

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, New 
Mexico, Utah, California, Texas, Utah, Oklahoma, and Maryland.

NPS FIRES

Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - A Type I incident management team (Fry) has 
been assigned to the Outlet fire, which is burning in designated and 
proposed wilderness two miles north of North Rim Village. The fire has 
burned 8,327 acres and is 15% contained. Progress was made in 
establishing and improving an anchor point for lines. Increasing 
winds, heavy fuel loading and abnormally dry fuels are challenging 
containment efforts. The evacuation of concession and government 
personnel and the closure of the North Rim visitor complex remain in 
effect. Currently committed are 811 firefighters and overhead 
personnel, 23 engines and seven helicopters.

Bandelier NM (NM) - An area command team (Meuchel) and two Type I 
incident management teams (Humphrey and Bateman) are assigned to the 
Cerro Grande fire. The fire has burned 42,232 acres and is 28% 
contained. A major effort is underway to secure the northwest flank of 
the fire against today's predicted wind event. Residents of the 
community of White Rock have been allowed to return to their homes. 
The spot fires on the north side of Santa Clara Canyon have been 
contained. Crews and aircraft continue to support Los Alamos Nuclear 
Laboratory fire personnel. The figure on the number of structures 
burned by the fire has been revised and set at 235. No additional 
structures have been lost over the past 24 hours. Currently committed 
are 1,286 firefighters, 32 engines and seven helicopters.

On Saturday, Intermountain Region released the following update on the 
fire and associated actions being taken by the Service:

"The Cerro Grande fire at Bandelier began as a prescription fire on 
Thursday, May 4. It was declared a wildland fire on May 5 at 1 p.m., 
and a Type 1 team took over the fire at 6 a.m. on May 8. As of 
Saturday, May 13, at 9 a.m., the fire was 32,000 acres in size.  A 
second Type 1 team has been brought in, and there are now 1400 
personnel on the fire.  Homes in Los Alamos and White Rock are no 
longer immediately threatened, but more than 100 structures in Los 
Alamos have been destroyed by the fire.  The cities of Los Alamos and 
White Rock have both been evacuated.

"The fire remains zero-5 percent contained, but strong winds that 
prevented air operations on Friday, May 12 and fed the fire initially 
have died down and air operations have resumed. The fire has spread 
northeast onto Santa Clara Pueblo lands and the Espanola Ranger 
District of the Santa Fe National Forest.  Although several Bandelier 
employees have homes in Los Alamos, none are known to have lost their 
homes.

"On Friday, May 14, the Secretary of the Interior announced at a press 
conference in Los Alamos that an interagency team would investigate 
the circumstances surrounding the planning and implementation of the 
Cerro Grande prescribed fire. NPS Director Robert Stanton and 
Intermountain Regional Director Karen Wade were present but no 
questions were directed to them. The investigation is to be complete 
by May 18, and the team's findings turned over to a review board named 
by the Interior and Agriculture secretaries.  Members of that board 
have not yet been announced.  The investigative team has been 
assembled and is in Santa Fe conducting its investigation.  Bandelier 
Superintendent Roy Weaver was placed on paid administrative leave 
during the investigation.  Chiracahua National Monument Superintendent 
Alan Cox has been named acting superintendent at Bandelier. The park 
is currently closed due to a general area evacuation. No park 
structures have been lost to date.

"Secretary Babbitt also announced May 14 that there will be a 30-day 
suspension of prescribed burns west of the 100th meridian effective 
immediately.  This suspension includes both the Interior and 
Agriculture departments.  Exceptions would only be granted for special 
situations with low risk and would require agency approval.

"Regional Director Wade in a television interview has publicly 
expressed the deep sorrow the NPS feels for those who lost homes or 
were otherwise affected by the fire. 

"Everything possible is being done at this time for Bandelier 
employees.  A critical incident stress debriefing team has been called 
in for counseling and a risk management team has been called in to 
help get the park back up and running.  Director Stanton and Regional 
Director Wade have been in Santa Fe since May 11 and have met 
regularly with park employees.  All employees displaced by evacuations 
due to the fire had been provided temporary quarters.  In addition, a 
thorough assessment is being made of all additional employee needs and 
every effort will be made to meet them.

"Director Stanton and Regional Director Wade have visited Bandelier 
National Monument, toured the Los Alamos neighborhoods hit by the 
fire, and talked to local members of Congress. Director Stanton 
expects to return to Washington late Monday."

If you are seeking further information on the Cerro Grande fire, check 
the following web sites:

Fire updates - http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/fire/
Fire-related press releases - http://www.fire.nps.gov/fire
Fire info via key term search - http://nt.excite.com/topics/ 
science/droughts_and_wildfires, or http://www.newsindex.com

SIGNIFICANT NON-NPS FIRES

Lincoln NF (NM) - The Scott Able fire has burned 20,717 acres and 
destroyed 64 residences, 16 outbuildings, and a dozen vehicles. 
Structures are still threatened on the north and east sides of the 
fire. A Type I team is managing the fire, which is 50% contained. 

OUTLOOK

NICC has posted FIRE WEATHER WATCHES for strong winds and high Haines 
indices this afternoon for all but the southeast portion of New 
Mexico; for strong winds and low relative humidity this afternoon for 
all of northern Arizona; and for low relative humidity this afternoon 
in all of Florida.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 5/15; Intermountain 
Morning Line, 5/13; Roberta D'Amico, PIO, NPS FMPC, 5/14]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Submissions pending.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

No submissions.

TRAINING/MEETING CALENDAR

The NPS training/meeting calendar follows this edition of the Morning 
Report as a separate message.

                            *  *  *  *  *

Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed 
by park, office and/or regional cc:Mail hub coordinators.  Please 
address requests pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your 
servicing hub coordinator.  The Morning Report is also available on 
the web at http://www.nps.gov/morningreport

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

                             --- ### ---