Bid: $RACESBUL.356
Subject: Bul356 Wildfire Roles 1/2

From: W6WWW@KD6XZ.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NOAM
To  : RACES@ALLUS

TO: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES VIA AMATEUR RADIO
INFO:    COMMUNICATIONS VOLUNTEERS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INFO:    AMATEURS U.S  (@USA: INFORMATION), CAP, MARS, RACES
FROM:    CA STATE AUXILIARY COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE, the
        volunteer communications reserve of the Governor's
        Office of Emergency Services.
    (W6SIG@WA6NWE.CA)  PH: 916-262-1600, 2800 Meadowview Rd.,
    Sacramento, CA  95832. Landline BBS, 916-262-1657 (Open
    to all). Internet crm@oes.ca.gov or seh@oes.ca.gov

Bulletin 356  OPS - Wildfire Roles 1/2
Release Date: December 12, 1994

From a report by Tim Low, N6ZUC.
    The Santa Anas are hot, dry winds that have their
beginnings in Colorado.
As they move west, picking up speed in the mountain passes, they
lose their moisture. By the time they arrive here in southern
California, they are very strong and very dry.
    Just before 7 a.m. my RACES group was called out to
provide communications for the Escondido Police and Fire
departments. I had been monitoring our RACES repeaters and heard
the call out for Strike Teams for animal rescue. The fire was big
and out of control, being fanned by gusts of 50 miles-per-hour or
more. I knew it would be a long and nasty one. Animal Rescue was
busy transporting domestic animals and pets from the fire path.
The county EOC, located in the San Diego Sheriff's Department,
was acting as a communications center, coordinating the efforts
of all RACES personnel, Animal Rescue, ARES/Red Cross, and
ARES/Salvation Army.
    Shortly after 9 a.m. I received word via Amateur Radio
that the fire was moving rapidly into the city and that
structures were in danger. I informed Police and Fire, which
immediately dispatched personnel to the area and began fire
fighting and evacuation efforts. Through the quick response to an
Amateur Radio operator's call, property as well as perhaps lives
were saved. All danger to the Escondido area passed by mid
afternoon.
    On day two another fire advanced on the city of Poway. We
had RACES observers stationed along the fire front feeding
reports on its movement.  These were fed to the county to help
the fire fighting teams coordinate their manpower.
    On day four I was called to see if I could find personnel
to relieve the tired Amateur Radio volunteers providing
communications for the Salvation Army at the Wild Animal Park and
the Army's headquarters in Escondido. I took off  my RACES badge,
put on my ARES badge and went to work finding licensed Amateurs
to fill the need. Through this whole ordeal, I was very gratified
to find so many unselfish people willing to provide support.
    By day 5 the fire had been contained and fire units were
beginning to be sent home. At this time all RACES, ARES and
Animal Rescue volunteers were ordered to stand down. For the many
Amateur Radio people involved in the effort, it had been a long
battle.
Continues next week.