NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, October 21, 1998

INCIDENTS

98-681 - Bryce Canyon NP (UT) - Structural Fire

The park's fire brigade, supported by AMFAC concession employees, saved the
historic Bryce Canyon Lodge from extensive fire damage on October 16th.  The
county sheriff's office notified the park of a fire alarm at the lodge curio
shop around 9:20 a.m. that morning.  District ranger Clyde Stonaker responded
and found the curio shop filled with light wood smoke.  AMFAC maintenance
staff were on scene, but were unable to determine the source of the smoke. 
It appeared, however, that it was coming from the lodge fireplace.  Further
inspection led to the discovery of smoke in the crawl space under the lodge. 
AMFAC employees followed the crawl space to the end of the lodge opposite the
curio shop, where open flames were discovered in the sub-floor underneath the
lodge kitchen.  The building was evacuated and all power and gas shut off. 
The park fire brigade deployed a hose line and extinguished the fire. 
Brigade members continued to enter the crawl space in alternating teams to
remove smoldering material and to see if the fire had spread.  Access to the
fire proved extremely difficult, as firefighters had to crawl to it in full
turn out gear and self-contained breathing apparatus.  The fire was confined
to the flooring under the kitchen and was declared out at 3 p.m.  An area
measuring approximately 15 feet by 20 feet was involved, with heavy charring
occurring between the floor girders.  A state fire marshal inspected the
burned area and determined that the source of ignition was somewhat unusual. 
A large Cleveland Range steam cooker (model 36CGM300) is located directly
above the point of ignition.  The steamer is fueled by a propane burner that
is approximately two feet above the kitchen's concrete tile flooring.  No
insulation or shielding material is present between the burner and the
concrete tile.  Over the years, heat conduction through the concrete tile to
nails in the sub-flooring had caused the wood around the nails to carbonize. 
The carbonized wood is capable of self-igniting at temperatures above 212
degrees F.  Steam cookers of this type are in common use in restaurants,
schools, and other larger kitchen facilities.  It is not yet known for
certain if this steamer or the old one it replaced in 1997 is the primary
culprit in the carbonization of the wood.  Regional safety officer Galen
Warren will be distributing more specific information on the cause of this
fire to interested parks.  The fire marshal estimates that the fire would
have broken through the lodge floor in 15 minutes had it not been
extinguished.  The Bryce Canyon Lodge is a famous historic structure that was
constructed by the Union Pacific Railroad during the mid-1920s.  The lodge
remains closed, except for the registration desk, but is expected to reopen
before the end of the season.  [Larry Nielson, CR, BRCA, 10/16]

98-682 - Death Valley NP (CA) - Search and Rescue

D.A., 40, and B.G., 43, both of Ann Arbor, Michigan, began
a cross-country hike from Dante's View to Telescope Peak at 8 a.m. on October
12th.  This cross-country hike would cover a distance of approximately 25
miles if completed; it would begin at an elevation of 5,704 feet, descend
down below sea level near Badwater, then ascend to an elevation of 11,049
feet.  On the second day into their hike, the two became disoriented while
attempting to hike down Dante's View and became stranded in one of the
drainages.  They advised rangers of their situation via cellular phone at
8:30 a.m. on the 13th.  Due to their location, the park asked for assistance
from China Lake Naval Air Station.  A helicopter was dispatched, and the two
men were located and rescued at approximately 2:30 p.m. that day.  They were
in good condition, but had run out of water.  Ranger Ed Derobertis was IC. 
[Ed Derobertis, PR, and Scot McElveen, Acting CR, DEVA, 10/19]
           
98-683 - Monocacy NB (MD) - Larceny

On October 10th, K.W., the resident farmer at the park's historic Best
Farm, reported that a Remington 700 DBL rifle had been stolen from his truck
some time during the early morning hours of October 9th.  On October 14th,
K.W. reported the theft of a variety of tools from a shed on the farm.
Numerous ratchets, socket sets, wrench sets, and power tools were taken.
Ranger Tom Kopczyk began a search of all area pawn shops for the stolen
items, but has not yet come across any of the items.  The total value of all
the stolen property now exceeds $3,000.  The investigation continues with the
assistance of the county sheriff's pawn unit.  [T.W. Kopczyk, CR, MONO,
10/15]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

Report pending...

PARK DISPATCHES

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

No entries.

                                *  *  *  *  *

Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed by park,
office and/or field area cc:Mail hub coordinators.  Please address requests
pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your servicing hub
coordinator.

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

                                 --- ### ---