SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX010
ARLX010 Amateurs Aid Agencies in California Fire Emergency

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QST de W1AW  
Special Bulletin 10  ARLX010
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  October 28, 2003
To all radio amateurs 

SB SPCL ARL ARLX010
ARLX010 Amateurs Aid Agencies in California Fire Emergency

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil
Emergency Service (RACES) teams are assisting local authorities and
relief organizations as fire has burned more than 500,000 acres in
southern California. Authorities report 11 separate fires have
erupted and more than a dozen people have died.

ARRL San Diego Section Manager Kent Tiburski, K6FQ, estimated that
about 100 ham ARES and RACES volunteers are participating in his
section, where most of the fatalities took place. Amateurs are
supporting the Red Cross and The Salvation Army and staffing six
shelters throughout San Diego county. Additional hams have deployed
to San Diego-area emergency management offices and hospitals.

Communication is mainly taking place on VHF. The San Diego ARES Net
has been activated on 7.233 MHz with 3.905 MHz as a backup. The
Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) also has been
using 7.233 MHz as a coordinating frequency.

San Diego-Area SATERN Coordinator Paul Cook, N6RPF, reports that
SATERN has helped with communication for a number of busy canteens
in the San Diego area.

In San Bernardino County, Orange SM Carl Gardenias, WU6D, said ARES
volunteers have been supporting emergency communication in the
county.

ARRL Los Angeles SM Phineas Icenbice, W6BF, reports ARES members
from his section have been assisting volunteers in the Orange and
San Diego Sections. Los Angeles SEC Dennis Smith, KA6GSE, says ARES
volunteers from the section also are helping at Red Cross shelters
in LA.
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