‰ NOW 30 WPM ‰ TEXT IS FROM SEPTEMBER 2012 QST PAGE 73‰ THIS COUNTY SAFE. THE PAPER REPORTED THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 50 REPEATER SITES LOCATED IN THE MOUNTAINS. SEE THE ARTICLE AT RADOS AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS FILL WILDFIRE COVERAGE GAPS. SHORTLY AFTER THE HIGH PARK FIRE BROKE OUT, RADIO AMATEURS IN ESTES PARK AND FORT COLLINS WERE CALLED UPON TO HELP PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS. HAMS SET UP ANTENNAS AND A CROSSBAND REPEATER TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS FROM RED CROSS HEADQUARTERS IN ESTES PARK TO THEIR FACILITIES AT THE FIRE BASE, AS WELL AS TO A RED CROSS EVACUATION CENTER THAT HAD BEEN SET UP AT A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL. ARRL COLORADO SECTION MANAGER JACK CIACCIA, WM0G, AND ARRL BOULDER COUNTY EMERGENCY COORDINATOR ALLEN BISHOP, K0ARK, WERE RETURNING FROM THE HIGH PARK FIRE ON JUNE 26 WHEN THEY WERE NOTIFIED THAT BOULDER COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAD ACTIVATED ARES FOR ANOTHER FIRE, THE FLAGSTAFF FIRE. ACCORDING TO CIACCIA, A LIGHTNING STRIKE HAD HIT JUST WEST OF BOULDER, CAUSING A 20 ACRE THAT HAD SPREAD TO 230 ACRES IN ONLY 30 MINUTES, DUE TO HIGH WINDS. THE BOULDER OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WANTED BOULDER COUNTY ARES BCARES POSITIONS MANNED AT THE EMERGENCY ‰ END OF 30 WPM TEXT ‰ QST DE W1AW ƒ