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 Previous: FCC Revokes Ham Ticket of Alleged Radio Pirate, Issues Fine |  Next: In Brief |
NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 28, 2001--With a forest fire along the Nevada-California now largely contained, Amateur Radio support to the Red Cross relief effort has concluded. Amateur Radio Emergency Service District 1 Emergency Coordinator Matt Parker, N7TOD, said communication support efforts wrapped up June 24.
 Smoke rises in the background, some 10 miles southwest of the home of Washoe County RACES Officer, Russ Shively, W7LWI. This photo was taken shortly after the fire erupted. |
"Amateurs remain on standby should additional communication support be needed," Parker said this week. "However, at this point, it does not appear that any further assistance will be needed with this incident." He said hams also have volunteered to assist the Red Cross to rectify operational problems that cropped up with the agency's 47-MHz radio system during the incident response.
The Red Cross Sierra Nevada Chapter provided relief services to firefighters battling the major woodland blaze southwest of Reno. Northern Nevada Amateur Radio Services--representing Washoe County ARES and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service--coordinated the Amateur Radio effort.
On a couple of occasions, radios aboard Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles failed. As a result, H-T-equipped ham radio operators were designated to ride shotgun on all ERVs. As of week's end, the Red Cross had released some or all of its ERVs to return to their home bases.
The so-called Martis Fire began June 18 about 20 miles west of Reno near Truckee, California--possibly the result of an improperly doused campfire that got out of control from high winds. Eventually, it consumed some 14,500 acres. Residents of several areas along Interstate 80 in California were briefly evacuated.
Last weekend, some feared that gusty winds might further spread the flames, but that did not happen. Parker said cooler temperatures and some rainfall earlier this week helped alleviate the situation.
Firefighters at one point numbered more than 2000. Those remaining on duty this week were "mopping up the hot spots," said Nevada Section Emergency Coordinator Paul Cavnar, NN7B. He reports one mobile home and three vehicles fell victim to the flames, but no one was hurt or killed. The fire will have cost an estimated $10.5 million by the time it's considered out, Cavnar said.
"It has been a good learning experience for us and did expose some weaknesses that we will be addressing very soon," Cavnar said. "We actually had a few hams volunteer from other states to come in and assist as needed. Now, that's what I call solid commitment!"
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