[Ares-races] Montana Hams in "Heads-Up" Mode in Wildfires Response

[BillLennox@aol.com]

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.

       "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 (<A HREF="http://www.w7tck.org/">W7TCK</A>) 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 
contact 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 <A HREF="http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html">NationalFire Information Center</A>.

       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 <A HREF="http://www.helenair.com/helena">Helena Independent Record</A>, with two front-page stories in the past thee 
months. One recent <A HREF="http://www.helenair.com/articles/2003/08/26/helena_top/a01082603_02.txt">story</A> 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 <A HREF="http://www.helenair.com/articles/2003/08/25/helena_top/a01082503_03.txt">other</A> highlighted the ARES team's emergency 
activities.

       Solomon said hams from the Lincoln area have been actively involved in 
fire fighting 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.

       "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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Bill Lennox
US Air Force (Retired)
Full Time College Student (Emergency Management)
KD7EFP
Assistant Emergency Coordinator - Plans (ARES), Washington County, Oregon
Assistant Radio Officer - Plans (RACES), Washington County, Oregon




































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