NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, October 7, 1998

INCIDENTS

98-16 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Follow-up: Volcanic Activity

Mount Kilauea remains active.  This eruption of Kilauea began on January 3,
1983 and constitutes the longest-lived rift activity in the history of the
Hawaiian islands.  On the evening of October 4th, residents near the volcano
were shaken by a 4.6 earthquake.  The epicenter was only about a half mile
under the surface.  There were about a dozen after-shocks, the strongest of
which registered at 4.1.  Pu'u O'o has also been fuming heavily.  New flows
since August 14th have covered 1,063 acres along the coast; the total bench
area presently covers about 28 acres.  [Yvette Ruan, CR, HAVO, 10/5]

98-612 - Gulf Islands NS (MS/FL) - Follow-up: Hurricane Georges

Recovery efforts continue in the park's Mississippi District, which was hit
hard by the hurricane.  Davis Bayou has about 2,000 downed trees, but the
visitor center, houses and other facilities weathered the storm fairly well. 
Impacts were more severe on the off-shore islands.  Petit Bois Island was
flattened and lost about a half mile off its east end; Horn Island lost about
a quarter mile from its east end.  Although the ranger station was built on
pilings, it was still flooded with about nine inches of water.  The nearby
pier was destroyed.  Ship Island suffered the most damage.  The island is now
divided into three sections instead of two.  The new cut is about three-
quarters of a mile wide and is fairly shallow.  The fort on the island has a
giant tree sitting inside it, the bunkhouse and snack bar are tilted over,
the south pavilion has about five feet of sand in it, and all quarters and
buildings were flooded by about four feet of water despite sitting on
pilings.  Only fragments of the pier remain.  [Mississippi District, GUIS,
10/3]

98-639 - Fort McHenry NM&HS (MD) - Death of Employee

Mason William E. Gray, 50, passed away on October 3rd after a long battle
with cancer.  He'd worked at the park since 1993.  Bill's adaptability and
strength through the many challenges of his illness were an inspiration to
the entire park staff.  He is survived by his wife, A., and two brothers
and a sister.  The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. today at Gonce Funeral
Home, 4001 Ritchie Highway, Baltimore, MD 21225.  The family has asked that
donations be made in lieu of flowers to any Vietnam veterans' organization or
to the American Cancer Society.  [Rick Nolan, CR, FOMC, 10/5]

98-640 - Big Cypress NP (FL) - Poaching; Shots Fired At Ranger

Rangers and a state game officer investigated a shot fired inside the western
portion of the park late on the evening of October 4th.  Around 1:50 a.m. the
following morning, they spotted two men attempting to leave the park on an
ATV with a four-point deer in their possession.  After they parked the ATV
about 100 feet from the road in dense vegetation, one of the two men walked
out to the road and was arrested.  The rangers then told the second man to
stay where he was, but he instead attempted to flee on the ATV.  The rangers
approached him after the ATV got stuck after traveling only a few feet.  As
they did so, the man grabbed a rifle, pointed it at one of the rangers, and
attempted to work the firing mechanism.  The ranger, who had no cover, drew
his weapon and fired seven rounds at the man, but the man was behind the ATV,
the deer (tied to the ATV), and some logs.  He was not hit and was able to
escape into the swamp.  He was apprehended six hours later as he attempted to
return in his vehicle to the Everglades City area.  The park is working on
formal charges with the U.S. attorney's office.  Violations include assault
on a federal officer, possession of firearms, use of an ATV in a closed area,
and possession of illegally-taken wildlife.  [Dan Sholly, CR, BICY, 10/5]

98-641 - Glacier Bay NP&P (AK) - Poaching

On September 23rd, ranger Rick Perkins investigated the taking of a moose
along the park's boundary during the course of the state's sport moose
season.  His findings led to a full crime scene investigation with the
assistance of special agent Mike Sharp.  An interview with the hunter and a
return visit to the kill site revealed that the hunter had taken the moose
inside the park.  The animal was being called out of the park at the time it
was shot, but the hunter failed to wait until it crossed the boundary line. 
The moose was dragged some 300 feet, where it was gutted, then another 200
feet to an access road.  Perkins and Sharp backtracked the moose's hoof
prints from where it dropped to the location where it was hit.  Blood
spatters found on a small bush led them to the actual location from which the
rounds were fired.  There were also rope drag marks on a tree on the boundary
which had an NPS boundary sign attached.  The moose was seized and a
mandatory appearance citation was issued.  [Mike Sharp, SA, GLBA, 10/1]

98-642 - Katmai NP&P (AK) - Poaching

On September 6th, chief ranger Jim Hummel and ranger Brian McCullough were
conducting an aerial patrol of the park when they spotted a new trespass
cabin.  A closer look revealed an aircraft, three people, an ATV and a bloody
set of moose antlers near the cabin.  Due to inhospitable terrain, a landing
was considered imprudent, but rangers were able to covertly track the
aircraft to its destination.  The pilot was interviewed by Hummel on
September 10th.  The interview revealed the elements of a Lacey Act violation
by a non-permitted big game guide on federal lands, illegal use of an ATV,
and illegal consturction of a trespass cabin.  As the antlers and moose were
being confiscated, the guide changed his story, saying that the animal was
taken by "friends" who were "unexpectedly" preparing to leave the state. 
Through the assistance of NPS special agent Scott Taylor and state game
officer Dave Churchill, a former homicide investigator, a residential search
warrant was received and executed - but not before the client had left the
state.  A computer and numerous records were seized, prompting later
execution of an additional warrant to search the contents and files.  The
investigation continues.  [Jim Hummel, CR, KATM, 9/30]

98-643 - Katmai NP&P (AK) - Assist; Natural Causes Officer Fatality

On September 16th, Fish and Wildlife Service refuge officer Bill Smoke and
state game officer Dave Churchill were investigating two individuals in a
"wanton waste" moose hunting case in an area adjoining refuge and park lands. 
During the operation, Smoke contacted Hummel, reporting that he was
conducting CPR on an apparent heart attack victim and that he therefore
couldn't fly him to King Salmon.  The local ambulance service that was
requested had to cancel its response after determining that the incident was
too far outside its response area.  Hummel flew to the location in a contract
helicopter that happened to be nearby, arriving 45 minutes later.  He found
that Smoke was conducting CPR on Churchill.  Churchill was taken by
helicopter to Smoke's aircraft in an effort to expedite the return to King
Salmon.  Because of an unexpected drop in wind, extra passenger weight, and a
short takeoff distance, Smoke was unable to safely take off.  CPR was
terminated after 90 minutes of effort due to exhaustion by the rescuers and
the long time it would take to evacuate him.  An autopsy showed that he'd
died of a heart attack and that he had extensive arterial blockage.  A
memorial service was later conducted for Churchill, who was given full
departmental honors.  [Jim Hummel, CR, KATM, 9/30]

98-644 - Whiskeytown NRA (CA) - Alleged Sexual Assault

During the early evening hours of October 3rd, rangers received a relayed
report of a rape that had reportedly occurred in the park.  The caller said
that she and the suspect were in a vehicle that broke down on Highway 299. 
When rangers arrived, the woman who had called immediately reported that her
husband had just raped another woman.  It appears that the two were engaged
in sexual activity in the front seat of a pick-up truck when the man's wife
caught them, at which point the other woman began screaming that she was
being raped.  An investigation into just what occurred is being conducted by
the Shasta County Sheriff's Office.  [Larry Carr, CR, WHIS, 10/5]

98-645 - Obed W&SR (TN) - Falling Fatality

On October 4th, rangers at Big South Fork NRRA received a radio call
reporting that a visitor had fallen at the Lily Bluff overlook on the Obed
River.  Rangers Kristy Kozel and Barry Melloan from Big South Fork and Rob
Turan from Obed responded along with three local rescue squads.  B.B.,
31, of Robbins, Tennessee, had been walking around the bluff area
outside of the designated wood walkway.  B.B. tried to free climb on the
cliff face, but in so doing fell 20 feet to a ledge and another 40 feet to
the bottom of the cliff.  Rescue squads carried him out and he was taken by
helicopter to the University of Tennessee Hospital.  He died of multiple
injuries later that night.  Alcohol was a contributing factor.  Local
authorities also advised that B.B. was an escapee from the Morgan County
jail.  [Frank Graham, CR, BISO, 10/6]

98-646 - Fredericksburg NMP (VA) - Significant Vandalism

During the evening of September 28th, vandals inflicted $5,000 in damage to
two large headstones from the early 1860s in the historic Willis family
cemetery, which lies atop Willis Hill, focal point of the Union attack on
Confederate entrenchments on December 13, 1862.  The cemetery is surrounded
by park lands and is being donated to the park by Willis family heirs.  This
incident is only the latest in a series of acts of vandalism that have
occurred to local historic cemeteries.  [Mike Johnson, CR, FRSP, 10/6]

98-647 - Little River Canyon NRA (AL) - Resource Violation

On October 4th, rangers contacted two separate groups collecting moss and
lichen in the park.  Both groups were from the Bloom Quest conference, which
was being held at an adjoining state park.  Over two dozen individuals were
contacted, none of whom had permits for collecting in the park.  Nine
citations were issued for resource violations.  Damage to one rock glade was
significant.  Parks should be aware that Bloom Quest holds conferences
nationwide.  [Dwight Dixon, CR, LIRI, 10/6]

98-648 - Acadia NP (ME) - Suicide

The body of S.W., 34, of Takoma Park, Maryland, was found in his tent
in Blackwoods campground at 5:30 p.m. on September 30th.  S.W. had run a
plastic hose from his vehicle's exhaust into the tent.  The car was running
at the time of the discovery, and neighboring campers reported that it had
been running since about 10 a.m. that morning.  He apparently died three to
four hours before his body was found.  [Norm Dodge, CR, ACAD, 10/2]

                       [Additional reports pending...]

FIRE/INCIDENT ACTIVITY

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II

LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY 

                                                     Mon      Tue    %  Est
State      Unit             Fire/Incident     IMT    10/5     10/6  Con Con
-----      ----             -------------     ---    ----     ----  --- ---
CA   Riverside RU         * Edna Cx            T1       -   32,893   60 NEC
     San Diego RU         * Camino San  
                              Bernardo         --       -      101   NR NR

PR   Roosevelt Roads NB     Hurricane Georges  T1    Distribution center

                                  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; FUT = Interagency
            Fire Use Management 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

CURRENT SITUATION

Moderate initial attack activity was reported yesterday.  Backfiring
operations on Edna Complex fires were successful yesterday; the Camino San
Bernardo fire destroyed six homes and three vehicles.  Seventy-three crews,
148 engines, and 14 helicopters have been committed to the Edna Complex
fires.

Very high and extreme fire indices were reported yesterday in California.

No fire weather watches or warnings have been posted for today.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 10/7]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

No entries.

PARK DISPATCHES

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Wildland Fire Management Positions - New wildland fire management positions
funded under the national fire management intern program will not be
announced in FY99 due to significantly tightened FIREPRO funds.  A limited
number of intern positions will be established and widely advertised as soon
as funding becomes available, probably in FY00.  [Paul Broyles, NPS/NIFC]

MEMORANDA
No entries.

INTERCHANGE

Slip-On Units - Point Reyes NS has two 100-gallon, slip-on fire units
available.  The tanks and hoses are in good condition, but the engines may
require repair.  The units will have to be picked up at the park.  If you're
interested, contact Cliff Spencer via cc:Mail at NP-PORE or call him at 415-
663-8522 x 242.

                                *  *  *  *  *

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pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your servicing hub
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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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