06/22/2016
With New Mexico's Dog Head Fire[1] nearly two-thirds contained, all evacuation
orders and advisories for Bernalillo and Torrance counties lifted, the Amateur
Radio Emergency Service (ARES?) activation for the fire emergency is drawing to
a close. Evacuees now are being allowed to re-enter the affected area in small
groups with law enforcement oversight. ARRL New Mexico Assistant Section
Emergency Coordinator Jay Miller, W5WHN, reports that ARES' mission has now
switched from response to recovery. The nearly 18,000-acre fire destroyed 24
homes and 21 other "minor structures," fire officials said. The fire is said to
be human caused, but an investigation remains under way.
"Field Day is a go for W5WHN and the State EOC [Emergency Operations Center],
NM5EM," Miller said. "We will have company this year at the W5WHN Field Day
site - the US Forest Service Fire Suppression teams for the Battleship Fire at
the helipad near Fenton Lake in the Jemez Mountains."
Miller said winds and humidity have been cooperating with the effort to stanch
the flames, and the National Weather Service in Albuquerque is forecasting rain
in the next few days. On the other hand, according to the latest Dog Head Fire
update[2], "there is a chance of dry thunderstorms today and tomorrow, which
has the potential for lightning and outflow winds, which may increase fire
activity."
Miller said he anticipated deactivation of the ARES teams "in the next few
days." He credited New Mexico SEC Bill Mader, K8TE - whose Field Day site was
put off limits by the fire - with doing "a stellar job in running the operation
and stepping into the breach when needed."
Torrance County DEC Darryl Clutter, NX5W, has been scheduling and essentially
running the Torrance County ARES operation, Miller noted, and Bernalillo County
EC Stanton Royce,W5CO, has been overseeing the ARES operation in that county
while also working full time at his day job.
[1] https://nmfireinfo.com/2016/06/22/dog-head-fire-daily-930-am-update/
[2] https://nmfireinfo.com/2016/06/22/dog-head-fire-daily-930-am-update/
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