NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, June 15, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1967, archeologist Jean Pinkley discovered the 
foundations of the great 17th-century Pecos mission church at Pecos 
National Historical Park, New Mexico.

INCIDENTS

90-109 - Indiana Dunes NL (IN) - Follow-up on Murder of Ranger

Fugitives R.H. and J.W. (who murdered Gulf Islands NS 
ranger Bob McGhee in 1990) engaged local police in a gun battle in 
Indiana yesterday. A deputy sheriff in Lake County spotted the van on 
I-65 at 2:15 a.m. It was doing 75 mph in a 55 mph speed zone, so he 
pursued, not knowing that the two escaped felons were within it. The 
driver pulled the van off the road of his own accord and the deputy 
pulled up behind it. As he approached, the driver leveled a 
double-barreled shotgun at him and fired both barrels. The deputy was 
able to duck down and was not hit.  A pursuit ensued, first north and 
then south on the interstate. During the chase, J.W. and R.H. 
fired numerous rounds at pursuing officers.  Stop-sticks were employed 
which deflated two tires on the van.  The driver pulled off the 
interstate, pulled into a truck stop, and engaged in a shootout with 
officers. The two men then fled into nearby fields. A helicopter with 
infrared detection equipment and tracking dogs were utilized in the 
search, but without success. Approximately 40 officers from various 
agencies searched area homes, farms and woods, but found no signs of 
the two men.  The recovered van is being processed for evidence. The 
van had eleven bullet holes in it and a small amount of blood was 
found in the parking lot. Investigators believe that one of the two 
men was wounded. The van, which was brown, had been spray painted 
blue.  Several shotguns and handguns were recovered from the vehicle, 
but the two men are likely to still have handguns in their possession. 
Food and other items found in the van indicate J.W. and R.H. were 
living in it. J.W. has been identified as the person who tried to 
shoot the deputy. Indiana Dunes NL sent four rangers to assist in the 
search and a special agent to act as agency liaison at the command 
post (the incident occurred about 30 miles southwest of the park).  
The search was called off about 12 hours after the incident, as it 
appeared that the two men had stolen another vehicle and left the 
area. Yesterday evening, two men matching their description walked 
into a market in Hebron, Indiana, and bought some food. They left in a 
brown, late-model Buick, heading south on Indiana Route 2. One of the 
employees of the market got the license plate, Indiana 478-M28, which 
was stolen a year-and-a-half ago from a dealership in Merrillville. 
The men were wearing new clothes - R.H. was dressed in a forest 
green T-shirt, jeans, and light blue Air Walk shoes; J.W. was 
wearing a dark baseball cap, white T-shirt, and blue jeans. The search 
continues. [R. Littlefield, CR, INDU, 6/14; The Valparaiso Times, 
6/15]

[A number of reports are currently pending due to time constraints and 
other priorities. They will appear tomorrow and/or Monday...]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III

CURRENT SITUATION

New large fires were again reported yesterday in the Southwest and 
California. Strong winds and low relative humidities will hinder 
suppression efforts in Colorado and New Mexico. Thunderstorms with 
lightning but no rain are forecast for Colorado, which should lead to 
new fires. Initial attack was moderate yesterday in California, Alaska 
and the South and Southwest.

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from yesterday's numbers in parentheses): 164 crews (- 9), 
1,204 overhead (+ 268), 325 engines (+ 86), 46 helicopters (- 3), and 
13 air tankers (+ 10).

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Colorado, New 
Mexico, Arizona, California, Utah, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, 
Wyoming, Minnesota, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi.

NPS FIRES

Bandelier NM (NM) - An area command team and two Type II incident 
management teams remain committed to the Cerro Grande fire, which is 
now 100% contained. Significant progress has been made on 
rehabilitation projects identified by the BAER team. 

Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - There's been little activity on the Outlet fire 
for the past 24 hours. Mop-up and rehabilitation work continue.

SIGNIFICANT NON-NPS FIRES 

Colorado State - The High Meadow fire (35 miles southwest of Denver) 
has now burned 6,700 acres, up from 4,500 acres yesterday. Gusty winds 
yesterday resulted in extreme fire behavior, forcing the retreat of 
firefighters committed to protection of structures. Over 200 homes 
have been evacuated. The forecast calls for strong winds and low 
humidity today, which could cause significant fire growth. A Type I 
team is assigned; 626 firefighters and overhead have been committed.

Arapaho-Roosevelt NF (CO) - The Bobcat fire (12 miles west of 
Loveland) burned another 1,800 acres yesterday, bringing the total to 
date to 6,700 acres. The fire made a couple of significant runs 
yesterday. A Type I team is assigned; a total of 459 firefighters and 
overhead have been committed.

Santa Fe NF (NM) - The Viveash fire (five miles northwest of Pecos) 
continues to burn in ponderosa pine and mixed conifers. Although 
suppression is the main priority, rehabilitation efforts will resume 
today with the arrival of additional crews. A Type II is assigned.

Gila NF (NM) - The lightning-caused Saliz fire (15 miles southwest of 
Reserve) has burned 850 acres and is threatening 50 structures.

OUTLOOK

NICC has issued a RED FLAG WARNING for strong winds and low relative 
humidities for New Mexico this afternoon, and FIRE WEATHER WATCHES for 
strong gusty winds, low humidity and possible dry lightning in 
northeast Colorado and for strong winds in eastern Idaho.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/15]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

No submissions.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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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