NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, April 15, 1998

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

98-137 - New River Gorge NR (WV) - Assist; Burglary Arrest

On April 5th, K.B., 18, and a 16-year-old juvenile broke into a
residence about 25 miles outside the park, stole three rifles and ammunition,
then fled in a Geo Tracker.  The pair eluded police and headed for the park. 
A state trooper responding from the opposite direction spotted the vehicle
just outside the park boundary and pursued it at high speeds back into the
park.  The Tracker crashed into the Prince Bridge crossing over the New
River; K.B. and the juvenile bailed out and ran up a park trail toward
Grandview.  The trooper crashed into an embankment and continued the pursuit
on foot.  A ranger who was in the area and was monitoring the radio traffic
joined the trooper in the chase while two other rangers blocked the end of
the trail at Grandview.  The trooper was able to catch up with K.B. and the
juvenile and arrested them at gunpoint.  Neither was armed at the time of the
arrest.  Each was charged with burglary, fleeing with property damage, and
fleeing on foot.  [Rick Brown, Protection Unit Leader, NERI, 4/14]

98-138 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - Assist; Urban Interface Wildfire

The park was notified of a fast-moving fire approaching two subdivisions near
the northern end of the parkway on April 2nd.  Low humidity, high winds and
recent increases in ground fuels due to winter storm damage heightened the
risk to the homes and to park lands.  The park sent an engine and a slip-on
unit to the subdivisions.  The pressurized foam from these two units proved
critical in saving two homes.  They were the only fire units at the scene
with this equipment.  The fire was contained at 400 acres the following day;
no structures were lost.  Only a small portion of one spot fire burned into
the park.  [Bruce Bytnar, DR, Ridge District, BLRI, 4/6]

98-139 - Lake Meredith NRA (TX) - Assist; Urban Interface Wildfire

A fire broke out near Fritch, Texas, on the early afternoon on April 2nd. 
Driven by 60 mph winds, it burned an estimated 12,000 acres along the
southern and eastern sides of the town within the next five hours.  Dozens of
units from the park and from 14 Panhandle communities responded in what has
been called the largest mutual aid fire response ever to occur in the area. 
The park contributed two trucks and eight firefighters.  They were able to
keep the fire out of Fritch.  A few small outbuildings were lost, but there
were no injuries to either people or livestock.  The fire burned about 200
acres of park land.  As soon as the fire headed for the park, the incident
commander put out word that heavy equipment could not be used without park
permission and that tactics would have to change on park lands.  This was the
fourth major fire in the area over the course of a week.  [John Benjamin,
Superintendent, LAMR, 4/3]

98-140 - Lava Beds NM (CA) - Special Event

On April 11th, the park hosted a special program commemorating the 125th
anniversary of the Modoc War.  Twenty living history volunteers established
an encampment at the site of Gillems Camp, the principal army headquarters
during the conflict.  About 600 people visited the camp during the day,
nearly twice the pre-event estimate.  Activities offered included a caravan
tour of war-related sites, interpretive programs, drill and weapons firing
demonstrations, and a memorial ceremony for the casualties of the Modoc War.
Local media covered the event.  Public response was overwhelmingly positive,
and the park is now considering making the program an annual event.  [Terry
Harris, LABE, 4/14]

98-141 - George Washington Memorial Parkway (VA) - MVA with Fatality

J.G., 29, of Alexandria, Virginia, was heading south on the parkway
near the entrance to CIA headquarters on April 11th when he lost control of
his vehicle and struck a tree on the right shoulder of the highway.  He was
pronounced dead at the scene.  Witnesses told Park Police investigators that
J.G. had been driving aggressively, speeding and cutting people off. 
According to one witness, J.G. was traveling in excess of 90 mph when he
passed a portable speed indicator board near the crash scene.  [Bill Lynch,
RLES, NCRO, 4/14]

98-142 - National Capital Parks East (DC) - MVA with Fatality

Park Police officers responded to a report of a motor vehicle in the
Anacostia River near the James Creek Marina on April 12th.  The vehicle had
gone through the marina's parking lot, struck a sign, then plunged into the
river.  The driver, E.O., was able to escape through his window, but
the passenger, Andre Turner of the District of Columbia, was unable to
escape.  He was subsequently pulled from the submerged vehicle and pronounced
dead at a local hospital.  [Bill Lynch, RLES, NCRO, 4/14]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Safety Notice - The review of an incident at Klondike Goldrush NHP in which
oleoresin capsicum (OC) bear spray was accidentally discharged in a vehicle
has resulted in some safety recommendations that are worth passing on to
others who utilize this spray (which is NOT the same as law enforcement OC
spray).  The spray holster and four-ounce canister were located on the side
of a dark-colored day pack and were unknowingly transported a distance of 20
miles in a helicopter.  The can discharged as the pack was being transferred
from the helicopter to a park vehicle.  The safety committee recommended that
brightly-colored canisters and holsters be used in air operations, that they
be carried on the outside (and visible) portions of the person and his/her
gear, that special containers be provided for transporting canisters, and
that this problem be emphasized at annual training sessions.  The park would
also like to hear from anyone who has found orange bear spray holsters or a
company that will make them as a special production item.  Contact Tim
Steidel at 907-983-2921.  [Tim Steidel, KLGO]

MEMORANDA

No entries.

EXCHANGE

No entries.

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming weeks
on matters pertaining to the National Park Service or kindred agencies.  For
inquiries regarding legislation pertaining to the NPS, please visit the
Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs Website at http://www.nps.
gov/legal, or contact the main office at 202-208-5883/5656 and ask to be
forwarded to the appropriate legislative specialist.

HEARINGS/MARK-UPS

Wednesday, April 22

House Resources Committee: Oversight hearing on the Government Performance
and Results Act.

Tuesday, April 28

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands and
Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans: Joint hearing on
H.R. 2800, "to provide for a study of the establishment of Midway Atoll as a
national memorial to the Battle of Midway, and for other purposes."

Thursday, April 30

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic
Preservation and Recreation: Hearing on S. 1693, the Vision 2020 National
Parks Restoration Act, Title IV (concessions); and S. 624, the National Park
Service Concession Policy Reform Act of 1997.  Witness: Deputy Director
Galvin.

Thursday, May 7

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic
Preservation and Recreation: Hearing on S. 1693, the Vision 2020 National
Parks Restoration Act, Title VI (national parks resource inventory and
management), Title VII (designation of tax refunds and contributions for the
benefit of national parks), Title VIII (National Park Foundation) and Title
XI (miscellaneous).  Witness: To be determined.

Thursday, May 14

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic
Preservation and Recreation: Hearing on S. 1693, the Vision 2020 National
Parks Restoration Act, Title IX (commercial filming in national parks) and
Title X (capital improvement project bond demonstration program); and S.
1614, "a bill to require a permit for the making of motion picture,
television program, or other form of commercial visual depiction in a unit of
the National Park System or National Wildlife Refuge System."  Witness: To be
determined.

FLOOR ACTION

No action scheduled on NPS legislation.

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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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