NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, April 11, 2001

INCIDENTS

01-037 - Independence NHP (PA) - Attack on Liberty Bell

At the conclusion of a talk given by interpretive rangers in the 
Liberty Bell pavilion on the morning of April 6th, a man pulled out a 
concealed, four-pound sledgehammer and struck the bell four or five 
times. The man, identified as 27-year-old M.G., was 
subdued and taken into custody by rangers. He was brought before the 
federal magistrate on two felony charges that afternoon. M.G. 
evidently acted alone and had no agenda or cause. He is being held 
pending a psychiatric evaluation. The bell received only minor damage, 
with four strike marks visible on its surface. A conservator from the 
Philadelphia Museum of Art made temporary repairs to the bell, pending 
further studies of the damage and more permanent repairs. The pavilion 
was closed to visitors for about three hours. The event attracted - 
and continues to draw - intense media interest at both the local and 
national levels. [Phil Sheridan, PAO, INDE, 4/10]

01-038 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Fatal PWC Accident

T.M., 19, was jet-skiing in Chili Pepper Cover with a friend 
on the afternoon of Monday, April 9th. They both tried to jump the 
wake of a boat and collided head-on. T.M. was killed in the 
accident. [Cate Clary, Dispatch, LAME, 4/10]

01-039 - Manassas NBP (VA) - Arson

On the afternoon of April 5th, the park received a phone call from the 
county fire department, reporting that they had units on scene at a 
wildland fire at the Stone Bridge. When rangers Gill Goodrich and Kim 
Coast arrived, they found firefighters extinguishing the remains of a 
five-acre grass and brush fire. Two visitors reported that they'd seen 
a man walking on a social trail along Bull Run, then saw smoke and 
flames from the area shortly thereafter. No suspects have yet been 
identified. [Kim Coast, MANA, 4/6]

                   [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.

Park Fires

Great Smoky Mountains NP - The Tunnel Fire is still being monitored. 
Another prescribed fire was conducted in Cades Cove yesterday, which 
burned about 83 acres of fields. No problems were anticipated.

Park Fire Danger Levels

Hawaii Volcanoes NP     Very high
Mammoth Cave NP         Very high
Everglades NP           High

[NPS Situation Summary Report, 4/10]

MEMORANDA

"Participation in Prescribed Fire," signed on April 3rd by the 
associate director, park operations and education, and sent 
electronically to all regional directors and superintendents, marked 
to the attention of FMO's. An informational copy of the text follows:

"The Fire Management Program Center heard during the National Park 
Service (NPS) Fire Management Conference that confusion exists about 
the ability of NPS personnel to participate in prescribed fire 
activities with cooperators.  Effective the date of this memorandum 
authorization is given for all NPS personnel to function on any 
prescribed fire, NPS or cooperator, commensurate with their level of 
Red Card certification and experience.

"We would remind everyone that we are continuing to work through the 
three phases to reinstate the complete NPS prescribed fire program for 
all areas of the country and we appreciate your patience and support. 
We continue to receive comments for inclusion in Reference Manual 18, 
Chapter 10 and will be releasing it as interim direction in April.  In 
addition, additional guidance may be forthcoming from past 
recommendations and ongoing reviews of fire operations.

"If you have any questions, please contact Sue Vap at the Fire 
Management Program Center at 208/387-5225."

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Petrified Forest NP (AZ) - The park has an opening for a GS-9 
protection ranger and would like to fill it through a lateral 
transfer. This is a 6c designated position. The main duties are road, 
horse and foot patrol, EMS, and structural fire protection. A level 1 
commission and field experience and level 2 structural fire training 
and experience are sought. Required occupancy. For more information, 
call assistant chief ranger Greg Caffey at 520-524-6822. Applications 
should be sent to Personnel, Petrified Forest NP,. Box 2217, Petrified 
Forest, AZ 86028. Applications must be postmarked by April 20th. [Greg 
Caffey, PEFO]

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS

Regular sections not appearing today but available at all times for 
submissions:

o       Natural/Cultural Resource Management - Significant 
        developments in these fields.
o       Interpretation/Visitor Services - Significant developments in 
        these fields.
o       Operational Notes - Any information of consequence to the 
        field on operational matters.
o       Interchange - Requests or offers from any park or office for 
        materials, information or any other operational needs.
o       Hot Links - Web addresses for NPS-related sites.
o       Film at 11 - Reports on current or upcoming print or 
        electronic media stories on the NPS.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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