European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 8, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday july 8, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 3 p photo a Wall of Hame and smoke forms a backdrop for this Aerial photo taken wednesday As thousands of acres were being consumed by a Forest fire in the Black Hills tourist area. Erratic Blaze veers away from mount Rushmore by the associated press a roaring Prairie fire swung away from mount Rushmore in South Dakota on thursday after chasing a thousand residents and tourists from the area while another huge grass fire was stopped 10 Miles Short of the Alaska pipeline. When we told them it was burning 1,000 acres per hour. And it was three Miles away they kind of believed us said sgt. Howard Brunner of the Pennington county sheriffs department who helped evacuate the town of Keystone s.d., late wednesday. Visitors were allowed to return to mount Rushmore on thursday morning but it was accessible Only from the West. Superintendent Dan Wenk said smoke was visible in the distance but there was no smoke at the memorial itself. The fire behaviour was so extreme and erratic that the fire line was lost several times during the night said Richard Hohmann a spokesman for the state division of forestry. In Alaska 72 firefighters gained the upper hand after battling a 126,000-acre fire in the Center of the state for three Days. Their goal has been to Stop the fire from getting closer to the pipeline said sue Mitchell an information officer for the Bureau of land management. So far  to have been successful. They have the head of the fire corralled Between two creeks and a fire line she said. Alyeska pipeline service co. Spokesman Tom Bren Nan said the pipeline stands in a Large cleared right of Way. It s constructed of thick steel that has been heavily insulated and was not susceptible to serious damage even if the fire had reached it. The fire near mount Rushmore shot Billows of smoke so High its pall was visible 160 Miles away in Pierre the state capital. The flames briefly threatened the Park s game Lodge where presidents Coolidge and Eisenhower spent summer vacations. The fire fed by drought dried Timber and grass in Custer state Park and the Black Hills National Forest was within three Miles of mount Rushmore before turning South said Hohmann. Pennington county sheriffs officials knocked indoors in the tourist town of Keystone and at the me Morial asking people to leave Early thursday said Jerry Hagen fire information officer with the . Forest service. He estimated 300 to 400 people were being evacuated 600 were evacuated earlier from Custer state Park. Employees at mount Rushmore and Park officials also were asked to leave Hagen said. Menashe and Abigail Barzilai of Winnipeg Canada their month old baby and two other children were among the 170 people who spent the night at a red Cross shelter. We left All of our things in a Motel including the passports Barzilai said. Now we can t go Back mrs. Barzilai said. About the fire i was t worried but about the passports i was and i Don t have anything for the  authorities believe lightning started the fire inthe North Central part of the 73,000-acre Park Mon Day night. It was not spotted until tuesday afternoon. Misfired mortar round kills 2 marines hurts 15 Pohak Uloa Hawaii a a misfired mortar Shell exploded among a platoon of marines at the army s train ing area in Pohak Uloa killing two an wounding 15, a Marine spokesman said. The platoon of about 30 marines was conducting live fire exercises with 60mm shells about 8 30 . Wednesday when a mortar round acc Dently landed among the group said maj. Kerry k. Gersha neck the Public affairs officer at the Kaneohe Bay Marine corps air station on the Island of Oahu. We had a company of infantry marines who were practising night defense fire he said. That is Al the fire All the weapons and ammunition that would normally be used at company level were being fired  the injured All suffering shrapnel wounds were treated at medical facilities at Pohak Uloa training area located on Hawaii Island and at Hilo and Kon Hospital where they were taken by a Mil itary helicopter Gershaneck said. Two of the injured marines were in serious condition he said. Three marines were taken to Hilo hos Pital where officials declined to discus their conditions referring questions to the military spokesmen. Nine marines were taken to Kon Hospital where nursing supervisor Patty Haupert said that most Are what the Call walking wounded we re mostly looking at stray shrapnel  she said there was no immediate de termination of their conditions. The names of the dead and injure were withheld pending notification of their families. Just How the mortar happened to land among the marines probably will not come out until after the investigation said William e. Buck the Deputy Public affairs officer. It was t fired from the same Loca Tion As the marines but the actual circumstances Are under investigation he said. The platoon was part of the marine2nd in 3rd Marine regt stationed at Kaneohe. The battalion of More than800 marines is Halfway through a monthlong training exercise at Pohaku Loa Gershaneck said. Bhagwan s ranch draws info rest of notional guard the Dalles Ore. A the Oregon National guard has inquired into the possibility of converting the former commune of Indian Gur Bhagwan Shree Rajneesha into a train ing . Gary Lockwood executive officer for the state s military depart ment said the guard must study the64,000-acre Rancho Rajneesha before it is considered for any military use. Any discussion we would have is academic Lockwood said earlier this week. We re not in a position to be looking at the financing and Pur  the guard s interest in the site could change if the property should come into Public ownership he said. The Central Oregon ranch is listed for Sale at $28 million. Meanwhile Lawrence b. Rew Pendleton attorney representing Connecticut general life insurance co.,said the company expects a summary judgment in Wasco county circuit court on a request for foreclosure against the ranch. The insurance com Pany holds the principal mortgage on the  the judgment is granted Rew said the foreclosure action would proceed to a sheriffs Sale. If the motion is denied the matter would be set for trial he said. The ranch served As a commune and world Headquarters for the bag wan and his followers for 4 /2 years. The commune disbanded in 1985,after criminal charges were filed against the sect s top leaders and the guru was ordered to leave the coun  general is trying to re cover $3.76 million through its fore closure lawsuit including More than $828,000 in accrued interest on the  company s lawsuit says no payments on the property have been made since aug. 1, 1986. The lawsuit asks that the ranch be sold As a single parcel by the Wasco county sheriff with the proceeds used to pay first the foreclosure judgment then other Lien holders