06/21/2016
Wildfires in New Mexico have put at least one planned ARRL Field Day siteoff
limits for the June 25-26 weekend. Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator Jay
Miller, W5WHN, said the Albuquerque DX Association W5UR group will have to
relocate its Field Day site away from the Cedro Peak picnic area, now closed
due to the Dog Head Fire. Miller said that if the Battleship Fire had not been
contained, access to the W5WHN Field Day site in the mountains would have been
threatened. New Mexico SM Ed James, KA8JMW, will operate Field Day from the New
Mexico State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Santa Fe, using the call sign
NM5EM.
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES?) volunteers in New Mexico late last week
responded to the Dog Head fire, which is affecting Torrance and Bernalillo
counties, and that activation continues. Evacuations were ordered in both
counties, and Miller said ARES is supporting EOCs in both counties as well as
relocation centers. The Dog Head fire encompasses nearly 18,000 acres and is
nearly 50 percent contained. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Dog Head Fire has claimed 2 dozen homes and nearly an equal number of
"other minor structures," fire officials said.
"Improved weather conditions combined with significant work on the ground has
resulted in a major increase in containment," a June 21 update said.
"Firefighters aggressively extinguished hot spots from the ground and air,
allowing containment to increase from 9 percent to 46 percent in the northeast
corner, much of the southeast side, the southwest corner, and most of the
southern flank."
The Capilla Peak 146.96 repeater and the Tapia Mesa 147.06 repeater have been
the primary emergency communication channels for the Dog Head Fire, located
some 6 miles northwest of Tajique. Mader has estimated that VHF/UHF repeater
coverage would likely meet all ARES communication needs.
Evacuation centers have been established in Estancia, at the Torrance County
Fairgrounds (for residents, pets, and livestock), and in Tijeras at the Los
Vecinos Community Center for evacuees. - Thanks to Jay Miller, W5WHN, for some
information
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