Montana Hams in "Heads-Up" Mode in Wildfires Response

NEWINGTON, CT, Aug 28, 2003--The long, blazing hot summer continues in Montana and other western states. As fires scorched an estimated 400,000 acres or more in Montana, Amateur Radio Emergency Service/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service teams in Montana have assisted as needed, primarily to supplement communication for authorities and relief organizations. Right now, things are relatively quiet for the ARES/RACES teams.

A view of the Lincoln Fire in Lewis and Clark County northwest of Missoula, Montana. [Helena National Forest Photo]

"At this time all units in the state are reporting in a stand-by mode," said Montana Section Emergency Coordinator Jim Fuller, N7VMR. "We have been getting some cooler weather and minor moisture in various parts of the state. This is helping slow the fire activity."

The most recent amateur support activity was in Lincoln, located in Lewis and Clark County some 60 miles northwest of the state capital of Helena. The Snow-Talon Fire, part of the so-called Lincoln Fire Complex, caused the evacuation of dozens of residents. Lewis and Clark County ARES Emergency Coordinator Bob Solomon, K7HLN, and ARES members Shawn Horne, KD7OQU, and Wes Rowe, K7WES, were among amateurs who volunteered to assist the American Red Cross and fire officials in responding to the emergency. Working from the Capital City Amateur Radio Club (W7TCK) mobile communication unit, the amateurs linked the Red Cross evacuation center in Lincoln with Helena. The mobile unit is equipped with a 4 kW generator.

"Lincoln is an extremely difficult area for any kind of radio propagation," Solomon said. "We had a lot of trouble keeping links going and utilized VHF and UHF repeaters as well as simplex." He said his team was able to his several areas in Helena using 2-meter simplex, "much to our surprise." The team also maintained contact with Powell County ARES.

The Lincoln Complex fires in Helena National Forest cover nearly 35,000 acres and were considered 35 percent contained as of August 27, according to the National Fire Information Center.

Solomon reports the group stood down August 24, but that Horne stayed on to assist law enforcement personnel with their communications back to Rescue Base in Lincoln. Amateur Radio's efforts already have attracted attention from the Helena Independent Record, with two front-page stories in the past thee months. One recent story featured the activities of Jim Haslip, W7CK, of East Helena. The 70-year-old retired science teacher has been an aerial fire spotter for four decades. He now works for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. The other highlighted the ARES team's emergency activities.

Solomon said hams from the Lincoln area have been actively involved in firefighting activities as fire service communicators and in other roles. Others have been forced to leave.

"Many of the hams in the Lincoln area have had to evacuate their homes," Solomon said. "Some of them have been permitted back in on a be-prepared-to-go-again basis." Others still out of their homes include Tish and Tommy Cockerham, KC7WBM and KD7IPT, who operate a guest ranch on Alice Creek northwest of Lincoln.

Bewildered deer attempt in vain to forage in a burned over section of forest in Lewis and Clark County. [Helena National Forest Photo]

"They had to evacuate in the middle of the night, which is distressing enough," Solomon said. "The real challenge for them was the 25 horses and 100 sled dogs that had to be evacuated, as well." The Cockerhams are understandably eager to return home, he added.

Solomon said his team in Lewis and Clark County was maintaining a "heads-up" stance for possible evacuation. "We are also replacing supplies, making minor repairs and adjustments and preparing for the next request for assistance," he said.

Earlier this month, the Red Cross requested ARES members in Missoula County to provide radio operators at a shelter for evacuees and at the Red Cross office "just in case," said Missoula County EC Mike McCrackin, K7DER. Missoula County authorities ordered mandatory evacuations August 16 from areas west of town due to the Black Mountain Fire. McCrackin said authorities and the Red Cross worried that fires surrounding Missoula might cause power outages. Six ARES members from Missoula County also were deployed as radio operators for the Wildland Fire Service. Hams were supporting Red Cross operations in Flathead County as well.

Yellowstone County ARES was activated August 20 to provide support for the Hobble Fire, now considered contained. Fuller reported that seven amateurs supplied communication needed to supplement or replace normal systems. The Hobble Fire consumed some 40,000 acres.

On August 27, the NFIC said 21 fires continued to burn in Montana.

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