[LeArc] ARLB027 New Mexico amateurs support fire response

[Joseph L. Rossmiller]

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB027
ARLB027 New Mexico amateurs support fire response

ZCZC AG27
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 27  ARLB027
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 9, 2002
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB027
ARLB027 New Mexico amateurs support fire response

Amateur Radio Emergency Service/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
members this week assisted the American Red Cross in New Mexico
following evacuations prompted by yet another wildfire. The latest fire
emergency came about as tinder-dry conditions continue to keep New
Mexico ARES/RACES members busy.

A dozen or so air tankers were ordered to battle the most recent fire
near Pecos--the so-called Dalton Fire in the Santa Fe National Forest.
More than 100 residents were evacuated in the Dalton Canyon and Pecos
Canyon areas.

''The fire hazard remains high throughout virtually all of New Mexico so
there is no doubt that ARES/RACES teams will be called out again--the
only question is, when?'' said New Mexico Section Emergency Coordinator
Bill Kauffman, W5YEJ

Kauffman said the US Forest Service now estimates the so-called Dalton
Fire is 70 percent contained. ''This fire, which is believed to have
been intentionally started, was hit hard with slurry bombers and hot
shot ground teams,'' Kauffman said.

As the fire emergency escalated earlier this week, Kauffman said hams
quickly set up at a Red Cross shelter and other facilities near Pecos.
The New Mexico State Emergency Operations Center in Santa Fe was not
activated, but EOC personnel had asked ARES/RACES to be ready if needed.

On May 2, ARES/RACES activated an HF net at the request of the state EOC
to provide possible communication support with Otero County EOC in
response to the so-called Penasco Fire. That blaze near Mayhill, was
expected to be 100 percent contained by mid-week after burning more than
15,000 acres. Most residents of the James Canyon have been allowed to
return to their homes after being evacuated earlier last week.

The Penasco Fire destroyed more than a dozen homes and more than two
dozen other structures. About 15 families were reported in Red Cross
shelters as of the end of last week. More than 1500 firefighters have
been involved in fighting the Penasco fire.

Kauffman said Forest Service supervisors have been discussing closing
all or parts of the Cibola and Santa Fe National Forests, and the City
of Albuquerque is considering closing the area along both sides of the
Rio Grande as it runs through the city, known as the Bosque.

The New Mexico statewide emergency frequencies are 7233 kHz days and
3939 kHz nights (plus or minus adjacent QRM).

ARRL New Mexico Section Manager Joe Knight says the situation ''could
change at any time.'' Little or no rain has fallen in New Mexico in
recent weeks, he said, noting that Albuquerque got just 0.04 inches of
rain in April. The lack of rainfall, combined with extremely low
humidity, led to the critical fire situation in New Mexico, which is now
at Level III.

Knight said hams in New Mexico remained on alert to render possible aid
to neighboring Arizona, where another 12,000 acre fire was raging.

In Colorado, Jeff Ryan, K0RM, reports that El Paso County RACES
supported firefighters during the April 28 Black Forest fire, northeast
of Colorado Springs. Several homes were evacuated. A dozen RACES
operators provided continuous detailed weather data to the fire team
command post until the fire was brought under control. No one was
injured, and no structures were damaged as a result of this fire, Ryan
said.

NNNN
/EX