NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Friday, September 24, 1999

INCIDENTS

99-577 - Yellowstone NP (WY) - Bear Mauling

G.L., 32, of Seattle, Washington, was hiking alone on the Black
Butte trail early on the afternoon of September 22nd when he was attacked and
mauled by a female grizzly bear.  G.L. was on his way to a campsite when
he encountered and came between the grizzly and her two cubs.  The bear
charged, knocked him down, and bit him several times.  G.L. received
injuries to the back of his scalp, the left side of his face, and his right
ribs.  When the bear departed, he got up and walked the four miles back to
the trailhead on his own.  Passing motorists provided assistance and notified
the park.  G.L. was flown to a hospital in Idaho Falls for treatment.  He
is currently listed in stable condition.  No management action will be taken
against the bear, as she was displaying natural protective behavior.  The
trail has been closed and will likely remain closed for the remainder of the
season.  [Public Affairs, YELL, 9/23]

99-578 - Yellowstone NP (WY) - Felony Arrests

On September 21st, rangers received a bulletin reporting that two armed men
who were wanted for suspicion of auto theft and unlawful discharge of a
firearm in a residence in Idaho might be in the park.  Only minutes later, at
12:30 a.m., ranger Keith Young spotted two men - J.M., 19, and a
16-year-old companion - setting up a camp in an undesignated camping area
near Mammoth Hot Springs; both the men and their car matched the descriptions
in the bulletin.  The pair fled in the car.  A high-speed pursuit ensued
northbound into Gardiner, Montana, then into Yankee Jim Canyon on Montana
Highway 89, where they abandoned the vehicle and ran into the woods.  A
multi-agency search was begun by rangers and federal, state and county
officers.  About 40 searchers, two police dogs, and two helicopters
participated in the effort.  J.M. and his companion were captured just
north of the canyon around noon.  They were taken to the park jail at Mammoth
Hot Springs and pled guilty the next day to federal charges of unlawful
possession and fleeing or attempting to elude officers.  They will also face
charges from the county and state of Idaho.  [Lane Baker/Public Affairs,
YELL, 9/22]

99-579 - Congaree Swamp NM (SC) - Drowning

I.S., 46, of Gadsden, South Carolina, drowned in Cedar Creek while
fishing on the evening of September 16th.  I.S. and two adult companions
were in a john boat with a two-person capacity.  The boat capsized while
I.S. was trying to untangle his fishing line from a tree branch.  B.G.,
the only swimmer in the group, pushed the third occupant to safety,
but I.D. had disappeared by the time he returned to rescue him.  Garrick
immediately called for help.  State DNR divers searched for I.S. until 11
p.m., but without success.  The search resumed the following morning, and his
body was found four feet from shore in a 10 to 15-foot deep pool of "black
water."  Interviews with the survivors revealed that the men had been
drinking all day prior to fishing.  Beer was found in the party's cooler,
recovered from the creek.  Alcohol is believed to have been a contributing
factor, but toxicology reports from the coroner are still pending.  There
were no life jackets in the boat.  There were no indications of foul play. 
[Martha Bogle, COSW, 9/20]

FIRE ACTIVITY

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II

LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY 

                                                     Wed      Thu    %  Est
State      Unit              Fire/Incident   IMT     9/22     9/23  Con Con
 
CA    Shasta-Trinity NF      Big Bar Cx      T1/2  53,403   54,784   50 UNK 
      Los Padres NF          Kirk Cx         T1/2  36,728   37,155   20 UNK 

MT    Blackfeet Agency     * Dead Out        T2         -      250   NR NR
      Glacier NP             Anaconda        FUT        -    3,500    0 RBF

ID    Clearwater NF        * Sweet 70        --         -      110    0 RBF

TX    State                  Williamsn Ranch --    11,000   11,000   95 9/24
                             Breckenridge    --       450      450  100 CND 

OR    Siskiyou NF            Sebastopol      T2       300      300  100 CND 
      Deschutes NF           Spring River    --       113      113  100 CND 

WA    Spokane Agency       * Two Rivers      --         -      400    0 NR

                                  Heading Notes

Unit        Agency or Area Office = BIA area; NF = national forest; RU = CA
            state resource or ranger unit; RD = state ranger district; FO =
            BLM field office; District = BLM district; NWR = USFWS wildlife
            refuge
Fire        * = newly reported fire (on this report); Cx = complex 
IMT         T1 = Type I Team; T2 = Type II Team; T3 = Type III Team; ST =
            State Team; FUM = Fire Use Management Team
% Con       Percent of fire contained: UNK = unknown; NR = no report
Est Con     Estimated containment date: NEC = no estimated date of
            containment; CND = fully contained; UNK = unknown; NR = no
            report; RBF = resource benefit fire, no containment action being
            taken; LR = last report unless significant activity occurs

NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FOUR DAY TREND)

                    NPS    BIA      BLM     FWS    States   USFS     Total

Monday, 9/20         2      1         8       0      289     28       328
Tuesday, 9/21        4      6         2       1      193     27       233
Wednesday, 9/22      1      2         6       0      129     34       172
Thursday, 9/23       1      5        11       1      157     26       201

TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND) 

                  Crews     Engines    Helicopters    Airtankers   Overhead

Monday, 9/20       229        282          65             0         1,560
Tuesday, 9/21      241        257          69             0         1,419
Wednesday, 9/22    218        264          65             4         1,466
Thursday, 9/23     241        341          74             1         1,552

CURRENT SITUATION

Initial attack was moderate in the South, Northwest and northern California
yesterday, but minimal elsewhere.

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Oregon, Washington,
California, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming, Alabama,
Texas, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

NICC has posted a FIRE WEATHER WARNING for strong winds and low relative
humidity in eastern Washington and northeast Oregon, and three FIRE WEATHER
WATCHES - for gusty winds, low humidity and warm temperatures in Wyoming (the
Bighorn Basin, Great Divide Basin, Wind River Basin and Lander Foothills);
for strong winds in southern Idaho; and for low humidity and gusty winds in
northern Idaho and western Montana.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 9/24]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, PROTECTION AND EDUCATION 

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

Court Rulings on Special Event Violations - Steve Chaney at Great Sand Dunes
is looking for someone who can provide information on any law enforcement
and/or court experiences dealing with special events (as defined in 36 CFR
2.50) that have been conducted without a permit - particularly comments or
decisions made by magistrates or courts regarding the appropriate CFR section
to cite for such a violation.  He can be reached on cc:Mail by name.  [Steve
Chaney]

Encroachment Management - Big Thicket NP is developing an encroachment
management plan and is looking for examples from other parks.  Encroachments
in the park include bank stabilization, docks, stairways, roads and trails,
boat launch ramps, and buildings and other structures.  Any help or
suggestions would be appreciated.  Please contact chief ranger Bob Appling
via cc:Mail or at 409-839-2689 x227.  [Bob Appling]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

USPP - The Park Police have issued a vacancy announcement for officers.  It
opens on September 30th and closes on October 7th.  Information can be
obtained at any OPM office or USPP facility, or on the web at either
www.usajobs.opm.gov or www.doi.gov\u.s.park.police.  Interested parties can
also call Sgt. Manso at either 202-619-7499 or 7056.  Applicants using the
USAJOBs web site can register on line; applicants picking up a copy of the
announcement will have to obtain a copy of "Form C", also available at the
above sites.  Testing will be conducted on the Florida State University
campus in Tallahassee, Florida, from September 30th to October 2nd, and on
the California State University campus in Los Angeles, California, from
october 5th to the 7th.  Applicants interested in taking the test at either
of these two locations will need to bring a completed resume, OF-612 or SF-
171 for rating.  Only those rated eligible will be allowed to take the test. 
Testing in San Francisco, Washington and New York City will begin in
November.  OPM will schedule those candidates who have been rated eligible to
take the test. [Sgt. Robert MacLean, USPP]

Assateague Island NS - The park is seeking qualified candidates for a lateral
transfer at the GS-9 level for a protection ranger in the Maryland District. 
The positions is full-time and covered by 6c.  Applicants with interest in
and experience with hunting programs, EMS and boating operations are
preferred.  Applications and personnel-related questions may be directed to
Karen Burns at 410-641-1443 x205.  Questions pertaining to the position and
operation itself should be directed to district ranger Will Reynolds at 410-
641-3937.  [John Burns, CR, ASIS]

                                *  *  *  *  *

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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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