Hams assist at south-west fires

Hams and ARES members across New Mexico have very busy the past few weeks as an early fire season has put that state on high alert.

The Reserve Complex fire is at about 14,000 acres near Reserve, New Mexico in the Gila National Forest while the Skates fire is also in the Gila National Forest at 12,500 acres near Silver City. And for the New Mexico Amateur Radio Emergency Service the Skates Fire has brought the largest response to date.

As the Skates fire threatened homes in the Lake Roberts area, some 14 ARES operators coming from as far away as El Paso, Texas supported a Red Cross shelter operation that had been set up to handle the needs of residents
displaced by the Skates fire. That operation finally stood down on June 20th when people were allowed to return to their homes.

During the Skates fire, John Beakley, WK5C, operated from Las Cruces, keeping county management in communications with Silver City. Steve Friis, WM5Z and Valerie Woosley, KD5ZGY, were at the other end of the loop relaying information back to WK5C. Much to his credit, WM5Z performed this task while recovering from recent heart surgery.

Another fire that brought out an ARES response was the Chaparral fire. It broke out back on June 5th near Cuba, New Mexico, threatening a near-by Girls Scout camp. Sandoval County ARES dispatched its emergency communications van in support of the camps evacuation.
Milke Ccales, K5SCA and Isaac Trujillo KE5FGL manned this mobile communications post with Marlin Allison, K5MHA, monitoring the operation from Rio Rancho, just outside Albuquerque.

ARES also responded on June 18th to provide inter-county communications at a fire near Corrales. K5SCA, KD5DCN and W5BI were the operators dispatched to that one. They helped to coordinate communications between two counties
and the Sandia Pueblo. Three other smaller fires were also reported to be burning in Sandoval County on that day.

At airtime there are five large wildfires being fought in New Mexico. The largest to date is the Bear fire in the Gila National Forest about 17 miles northeast of Glenwood is at 24,000 acres with zero percent contained.
Another big one is the Rivera Mesa fire is in the New Mexico State Forestry Las Vegas District at over 10,000 acres and only 10% contained. New Mexico ARES says it stands ready to assist if they get the call to serve.

Bruce Tennant, K6PZW
Amateur Radio Newsline

Latest news stories..

• Get our news headlines for your website • Submit your news story