NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, August 4, 1998

INCIDENTS

98-458 - Gulf Islands NS (FL/MS) - Search for Murder Suspect

During the early morning hours of Friday, July 31st, rangers John Hughes,
Larry Bova and Larry Edwards joined three Escambia County sheriff's canine
units in a search of the Fort Pickens area for a murder suspect who had
reportedly been seen there by park visitors on the afternoon of Tuesday, July
28th.  The visitors did not report their observation until Thursday, when
they saw a photo flyer of N.G. in the campground office.  N.G., 38, of
Milton, Florida, is being sought in connection with the stabbing of a local
female attorney.  According to N.G.'s family, he frequently visited the Fort
Pickens area and may be hiding in one of the many military batteries at that
location.  The search, which took place in very thick brush and marshy
vegetation, was unproductive.  [CRO, GUIS, 7/31]

98-459 - Biscayne NP (FL) - Boating Fatality

A lobster diver participating in Florida's two-day sport lobster season was
killed on July 29th when he was struck by the propeller of a passing boat
with a 225-hp outboard.  Rangers David Pharo and Thomas Rutledge were first
on scene and began life support on the victim, identified as 28-year-old
A.M.  Other park, Coast Guard, Florida Marine Patrol and Miami-
Dade police units also responded.  Pharo called for air rescue and
established an emergency, no-wake zone in the area.  A.M. was taken to
the trauma center at the University of Miami hospital, where he was
pronounced dead on arrival.  Florida Marine Patrol officers are handling the
investigation, as park staff are committed to follow-up actions stemming from
last week's tug and barge grounding.  A Coast Guard critical incident stress
debriefing team was brought in and worked with NPS staff.  [Gary Bremen, PIO,
BISC, 7/30]

98-460 - Coronado NM (AZ) - Drug Seizure

Rangers and National Guard soldiers intercepted eight people carrying loads
of marijuana across the border and into the park east of Smuggler's Ridge
during the early morning hours of July 30th.  The men dropped their loads and
fled.  Seventeen bundles containing 489 pounds of marijuana were seized. 
[Phil Young, CORO, 7/30]

98-461 - Lake Mead NRA (AZ/NV) - Double Suicide

A commercial trucker taking a walk along the abandoned road bed of U.S. 93 in
Arizona on the evening of July 18th discovered the bodies of two people
inside a vehicle.  Identities have tentatively been established as P.C.,
35, and S.C., 45, both of Arizona; the two were wanted by the
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for child abuse and sex crimes with minors. 
The exact cause of death is being investigated.  [Bud Inman, LAME, 7/20]

                       [Additional reports pending...]

FIRE ACTIVITY

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II

LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY 

                                                     Sun      Mon    %  Est
State      Unit             Fire/Incident     IMT    8/2      8/3   Con Con

WA   Gifford Pinchot NF     White Pass Cx     T2      250      250  100 CND

OR   State                * Belmont Road      --        -      500   90 8/3

AZ   Grand Canyon NP        Trancept Cx       --      230      230  UNK 10/15
     Tonto NF             * Rye               --        -      700   80 8/4

MI   Hiawatha NF            Slash Pile        --      100       70  100 CND

CA   Fresno-Kings RU      * Pine              --        -      200   75 8/4
     San Ben.-Monterey RU * Stonewall         --        -      250    0 NEC

OK   State                  Bear Mtn. Cx      T2    9,000    9,000   95 NEC

TX   Big Thicket NP         Mud               --      310      310   60 8/4
     State                  Sugarloaf         --    6,000    6,000  100 CND 
                            Cash Cx           --      450      450   NR NR
                            O Bar O           --    6,500    6,500  100 CND
                            Escota            --    6,000    6,000  100 CND
                            Lye Creek         --      160      160   80 8/3
                            Richland Creek    --      225      225  UNK NR
                            Brushy            --      400      400  100 CND
                            Weatherford       --      100      100  UNK NR
                          * South Line        --        -      600   30 8/4
                          * Barton            --        -      250  100 CND
                          * Vaughn            --        -      100  100 CND
                     
                                  Heading Notes

Unit        Agency = BIA area; NF = national forest; RU = CA state resource
            or ranger unit; RD = state ranger district; District = BLM
            district; NWR = USFWS wildlife refuge
Fire        * = newly reported fire (on this report); Cx = complex
IMT         T1 = Type I; T2 = Type II; ST = State Team
% Con       Percent of fire contained; UNK = unknown
Est Con     Estimated containment date; NEC = no estimated date of
            containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report

NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FOUR DAY TREND) 

                    NPS    BIA      BLM     FWS    States   USFS     Total

Friday, 8/1          5      7        19       1       66     87       185
Saturday, 8/2        0      6         9       1       80     45       141
Sunday, 8/3          0      7         8       1       50     54       120
Monday, 8/4          1      6         5       3      187     39       241

TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND) 

                  Crews     Engines    Helicopters    Airtankers   Overhead

Friday, 8/1        128        326          61            16         1,452
Saturday, 8/2      119        695          99            10           980
Sunday, 8/3        112        413          86            16         1,480
Monday, 8/4         77        322          78            13           666

CURRENT SITUATION

Fire activity in Texas remains high due to extreme fire conditions.  Activity
increased yesterday in the Southwest and southern California.  There was only
minimal activity elsewhere.

Very high and extreme fire indices were reported in Texas, Oklahoma,
Arkansas, Michigan, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Idaho,
Montana, South Dakota, Oregon, California, and Washington.

NICC has not posted any fire weather watches or warnings for today.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 8/4]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

No entries.

PARK DISPATCHES

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Several reports pending.

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

No entries.

                                *  *  *  *  *

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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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