NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, February 22, 2001

INCIDENTS

01-059 - Lake Chelan NRA (WA) - Search and Rescue

On the afternoon of February 18th, a resident of Stehekin saw a lone 
individual dragging a small raft from the Stehekin River to the 
Stehekin Valley Road. Rangers Cheryl Farmer and Craig Brouwer 
responded and found that two other people who had been in the raft 
were missing. A search was conducted by local residents and rangers. 
The two rafters, who had been dumped into the river, were found a 
short time later. They had managed to get out of the river and walk to 
their vehicle, which was a short distance away. Both were hypothermic. 
One of the two men was in serious condition, suffering from 
hypothermia and intoxication and uncontrolled vomiting. At the advice 
of Chelan Hospital EMS personnel, he was observed by rangers 
throughout the night of the 18th, then released on the morning of the 
19th. The rafters were ill prepared for winter rafting conditions; 
they were not properly dressed, had only two life jackets among them, 
and were rafting in a six-foot vinyl boat with small plastic oars. 
Alcohol was a contributing factor in the accident. [Ed Pontbriand, DR, 
LACH, 2/21]

01-060 - DeSoto NM (FL) - Arson

Two chickee huts and a portion of the wooden palisade of Camp Ucita 
were destroyed by fire around 8 p.m. on the evening of February 20th. 
The area is used for historic costumed interpretive programs. The 
cause of the fire has been determined to have been arson; the case is 
being jointly investigated by the NPS, state, and Manatee County. The 
initial damage estimate has been placed at more than $12,000. Chief 
ranger Paul Carson is IC. [Paul Carson, CR, DESO, 2/21]

01-061 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - MVA with Fatality

On the afternoon of February 18th, a Boulder City police officer was 
stopped in traffic on U.S. 93 that was backed up for seven miles due 
to an accident on the dam when he was passed by a sedan traveling on 
the shoulder at a high rate of speed. The officer pulled out from the 
lane of stopped vehicles and attempted to stop the car. The driver, 
later identified as R.M., 32, of Boulder City, stopped, then 
took off again as the officer got out of his cruiser. The pursuit 
continued and entered the park. The car struck the trailer of a 
tractor-trailer rig and several other vehicles, which caused it to go 
off the road and roll over. R.M. was ejected and killed instantly. 
Her motive for fleeing is unknown. The Nevada Highway Patrol is 
investigating. [Paul Crawford, Acting DR, Boulder Basin District, 
LAME, 2/19]

01-062 - San Juan NHS (PR) - Body Found

Rangers received an anonymous call on the morning of February 17th, 
reporting that a body had been dragged and thrown into the park near 
the fort's north wall, which is near La Perla, an area notorious for 
illegal drugs and firearms trafficking. Ranger Freddie Aledo and local 
police responded. They found no identification on the body. The cause 
of death is still under investigation, but is presumed to have been 
due to a drug overdose. The FBI was advised and also responded. A 
police SWAT team had to be called in order to permit investigators to 
safely enter La Perla to conduct the investigation. [Freddie Aledo, 
SAJU, 2/20]

                [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Plan

No new information. Please check the NPS Fire Management Program 
Center web page (www.fire.nps.gov) for further information on fire 
plan projects.

[Debee Schwarz, NPS Fire Information, WASO]

Park Fires

No fires reported.

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Submission pending.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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address requests pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your 
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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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