NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, October 4, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1961, President John F. Kennedy approved legislation 
to create Piscataway Park on the Maryland bank of the Potomac River 
across from Mount Vernon.  This ensured that the view enjoyed by 
George Washington would remain unspoiled by development.

INCIDENTS

00-628 - Zion NP (UT) - Drug Overdose

Rangers were dispatched to a reported disturbance in the concession 
dorm early on the morning of Saturday, September 30th. They found a 
disoriented employee in the hallway and another bleeding from numerous 
injuries in the restroom. Both were hallucinating and unable to 
communicate. They were taken by ambulance to a hospital, where it was 
determined that the pair and a third employee had ingested jimson weed 
(also known as datura, angel's trumpet and thorn apple), a 
psychoactive plant common to the Colorado Plateau. Rangers and a 
deputy sheriff returned to the dorm and found the third person, who 
had been unconscious for about 12 hours. During the investigation, the 
deputy and his dog found more drugs in the dorm. Symptoms of jimson 
weed use include blown pupils, rapid heart rate, and extreme 
hallucinations. It's normally ingested as tea or by chewing the root 
and can be fatal. [Brent McGinn, Acting Superintendent, ZION, 10/3]

00-629 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Attempted Suicide; Life Saved

On the afternoon of October 2nd, the nearby Henderson Police 
Department broadcast a notice to attempt to locate a 55-year-old 
bipolar woman who was despondent over the death of her father. The 
woman was also reported to have recently lost her job and to have left 
a note with her husband saying that she intended to harm herself. 
Rangers Joe Hayes and Paul Crawford were on an ALS call in Callville 
Bay when an area volunteer reported spotting a vehicle in the Las 
Vegas Bay parking area that matched the description of the one the 
woman was driving. The rangers responded and found the woman inside. 
She was alert and oriented, but admitted that she'd taken 20 
Cloanazpam and 20 Carbamazepine pills. She said she'd taken the drugs 
four hours earlier and was disappointed that they were taking so long 
to work. Crawford summoned a Henderson rescue unit and had dispatch 
check with Las Vegas Poison Control. They advised that the doses were 
lethal and that onset would be indicated by sleepiness. Hayes kept her 
talking and monitored her vitals. She didn't become sleepy until the 
rescue unit arrived on scene. She was taken to a hospital in Henderson 
and treated for the overdose. [Paul Crawford, SPR, Boulder Basin 
District, LAME, 10/3]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II

CURRENT SITUATION

Four new large fires were reported in the South. Containment was 
reached on two large fires in Oklahoma, one in northern California and 
one in Idaho. Initial attack was moderate in the South and light 
elsewhere. 

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Oregon, Washington, 
California, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, 
Oklahoma and Texas.

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from Tuesday's numbers in parentheses): 65 crews (- 65), 346 
overhead (- 247), 131 engines (- 1), and 15 helicopters (- 13).

NPS AND NPS-RELATED FIRES

No reports.

OUTLOOK

NICC has posted a RED FLAG WARNING for gusty winds and low relative 
humidity in parts of southern Oregon, including the ridges of the 
Siskiyou National Forest.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 10/4]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Uniform Program Update - There are several new developments to report:

o       Director's Order 43 on uniforms has been signed and went into 
        effect on October 1st. The accompanying Resource Manual 43 has 
        not yet been signed, but is in the final review stage. No 
        major changes are anticipated. Both can be obtained at the NPS 
        web site (www.nps.gov/refdesk/Dorders) under "Policy Place." 
o       Uniform Solutions, the current uniform contractor, anticipates 
        getting the ordering web site (www.uniformsolutions.com/lma) 
        up and running within a day or so. 
o       Employees who are entitled to wear the badge patch on the work 
        uniform should hold off on ordering upper body garments for a 
        while. The badge patch is not yet in production.

[Ken Mabery, RAD/WASO]

MEMORANDA

"Strategic Path for the National Park Service Prescribed Fire 
Program," signed on September 28th by Associate Director, Park 
Operations and Education Dick Ring and sent to all regions and parks. 
The full text follows. Please note that the attachment is only on the 
original memo, not attached to the Morning Report. See your park or 
regional FMO for copies:

"In July of this year, National Park Service Fire Management submitted 
a proposal outlining a strategic path for the reinstatement of the 
National Park Service prescribed fire program to the Secretary of the 
Interior.  This strategic path identifies a process through which the 
agency can begin a phased reinstatement of the National Park Service 
prescribed fire program.  The attachment to this memo titled 
'Increased Management Considerations in the Prescribed Fire Program' 
outlines in detail a series of action items and time lines that 
realign the prescribed fire program toward ensured success.

"In September of this year, the Secretary of the Interior approved the 
action items and time lines detailed in the proposal. The original 
time lines have changed due to this year's increased fire activity and 
new dates now appear in the attachment. The strategic path still 
addresses the key program elements that play a critical role in the 
effective implementation of the prescribed fire program.  It is now up 
to us to accomplish these tasks and to understand the role they play 
in implementing a successful and accountable prescribed fire program.  

"I encourage all of you to review the attached document and understand 
the interim guidance and phases that are a part of the reinstatement 
process of the prescribed fire program. Please address any questions 
you may have to Sue Vap, 208/387-5225 or Tom Zimmerman, 208/387-5215 
in the Fire Management Program Center."

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Yellowstone NP (WY) - The park is recruiting for the GS-025-11 Old 
Faithful subdistrict ranger position. The incumbent supervises daily 
visitor protection and resource operations for one of the premier 
subdistrict operations in the NPS. The full announcement (MP-00-31) 
can be found on USAJobs and closed on October 11th. [Nancy Baum, YELL]

Vicksburg NMP (MS) - The park has a winter seasonal position open for 
a commissioned GS-7 ranger. The announcement can be found at 
www.sep.nps.gov. The closing date is October 13th. Contact either Rick 
Martin (601-638-1870 x 8021) or Patricia Montague (601-638-1870 x 
8055) for additional information. [Patty Montague, VICK]

                            *  *  *  *  *

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.

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