Firefighters Making Progress in California Disaster

NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 31, 2003--Although many fires are still continuing to burn in Southern California, firefighters are making progress in the battle of the blazes. Over the last couple of days, the role of Amateur Radio emergency support has continued, but it is changing to meet the needs of the fire officials and shelters.

ARRL San Diego Section Manager Kent Tiburski, K6FQ, reports that on-air emergency support networks are down to one tactical net on 2 meters. At one point earlier in the week, the San Diego area had up to four nets going simultaneously--one on 40 meters and three on 2 meters. "The firefighters are getting a handle on the fires," Tiburski said today. "Some fires are nearly contained by now." The weather pattern is changing, too, and that has brought sporadic rain over San Diego. Winds are now pushing the fires eastward, easing threats to coastal communities.

About 20 or so properly trained Amateur Radio Emergency Service members are on the front lines with the firefighters and are providing backup communications for the California Department of Forestry and the US Forest Service. "These ARES members have gone through wildland fire training," Tiburski explained. "They go with the firefighters into the field where they relay information back to the CDF command center." The ARES volunteers are equipped with full fire protective equipment and tents.

Amateur Radio operators continue to provide communications for the Mountain Empire Red Cross Shelter. Other shelters in San Diego have now established telephone and on-line service.

The Fire Safe Council of California acknowledged the helpfulness of Amateur Radio in a Friday news release. In San Diego County, Lowell Grimaud of the county's Fire Safe Council noted the decision to select the Mount Palomar Observatory as a staging area and shelter, and the planning for the use of local ham radio operators as an information source. "Thanks to the Palomar Amateur Radio Club, we had around-the-clock information during the fires," Grimaud said.

Orange and Los Angeles Sections

ARES communications support of the Red Cross shelters in the Orange Section was deactivated today. Orange Section Manager Carl Gardenias, WU6D, said that the people from the national Red Cross arrived Thursday, bringing volunteers and communication equipment to handle the needs of the shelters. Two main fires are still burning, but cooler temperatures and fog in the mountains are helping firefighters contain them.

ARRL Los Angeles District Emergency Coordinator Dennis Smith, KA6GSE, also reported better weather conditions for firefighters in Los Angeles County with some rain expected for the vicinity. Los Angeles ARES supplied back-up radio operators for San Bernardino. Logistical communication support for evacuation centers in Los Angeles has now secured.

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