Amateurs Key to Fire-Related Los Alamos Communication
NEWINGTON, CT, May 18, 2000--Approximately 200 Amateur Radio operators from New Mexico and Colorado have participated in the Los Alamos fire disaster by providing communication from various locations. That word today from ARRL New Mexico Section Manager Joe Knight, W5PDY.
"We are all pulling together to accomplish the tasks of communications as given by the State, the Red Cross, and other support groups," Knight said today. He reports that winds were increasing, "but not as bad as we thought might be possible." With the fire away from populated areas now, Knight says hams now are trying to keep up with health-and-welfare inquiries.
Some 1500 firefighters are battling the flames. News accounts say about a third of the wildfires have been contained. While firefighters were not letting down their guard, some 7000 Los Alamos residents who had been evacuated were allowed back into the affected region this week. A portion of Los Alamos remains closed to the public, however.
Hams helped at shelters, emergency operation centers, evacuation checkpoints, the Los Alamos Civil Defense headquarters, and Red Cross facilities. Hams accompanied damage assessment teams and insurance personnel into affected areas to provide logistical communication.
Amateur Radio efforts in New Mexico drew words of praise from New Mexico Red Cross Field Service Chairman Jim Morrison, KM5BS. "You have no idea how much we appreciate the work of the Amateur Radio community during this disaster," he said in a message to New Mexico AREA. "They have provided an essential communications link that the Red Cross has utilized extensively.
Morrison has been working at the New Mexico EOC during the fire emergency.
In the Los Alamos fire incident, various locations were staffed 24 hours a day starting May 7. There was a total of 14 locations and 17 operating positions, several powered by generators. On average, hams handled 7200 messages a day.
Two individuals who slept on cots and have been available continuously for the entire nine-day period were Bob Cowan, K5QIN, and Dave Clark, KJ5KG. "They went more than the 'extra mile' in giving of themselves," Knight said of the pair.
Los Alamos-area hams have had extensive training in emergency preparedness and readiness. Knight pointed out that one of the three repeaters used in responding to the wildfire emergency was located underground--battery-powered and solar-charging. "Although the repeaters were directly in the fire's path, the repeaters continued to operate without interruption," he said.
Hams in New Mexico have constructed a statewide digipeater and voice communications network. The FM repeater grid is a consortium of linked repeaters on high geographic locations that covers the entire state. "For example, it's easy to communicate with a handheld transceiver from Roswell to Farmington, from Albuquerque to Deming," Knight said. "It's a highly reliable system and even worked during the recent power blackout that affected New Mexico.
Knight says hams provided emergency assistance in four other major fire situations in New Mexico.
President Clinton has designated three New Mexico counties as disaster areas. The Los Alamos fire resulted from a "controlled burn" set by National Park Service firefighters attempting to clear brush at Bandelier National Monument, south of town.