MARC Emergency Preparedness Committee

December 2004 Report

There has been no change in the Club's attempts to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the local CDF organization. They have had management changes this year, and the new management is equally receptive to working out an MOU, but fire season has enforced other priorities. We hope now that the fire season has eased (it never is totally over), we can finish up on this agreement.

Skip Reymann W6PAJ
CDF-VIP Communications Coordinator

June 2004 Report

During the past three months, there has been some activity between the Club and CDF. EC and Club Emergency Preparedness Chairman Dick Rekart has appointed Assistant EC Skip Reymann, W6PAJ, as the primary interface between the Club and CDF. Skip has completed the fire-line training which is required for all personnel who might be on or near a fire line. Dick, Jerry, and Skip have been discussing Club/CDF cooperation with the local CDF organization. CDF has been quite enthusiastic about formalizing and receiving communications assistance for major fire events. A Memorandum Of Understanding has gone through two revisions and completion and signature is expected very soon.

Skip announced that the Hensley Lake drill, in which local hams usually have assisted in an actual fire set as an exercise, has been canceled for this year. It is expected to be held next year, probably in May, as usual.

Skip Reymann W6PAJ
CDF-VIP Communications Coordinator

September 2003 Report

The annual Hensley 2003 Live Wildland Fire Exercise was held on Saturday, May 31st at Henley Lake at Buck Meadows. There were eleven operators that participated in the exercise: Mariposa Command Net, Tom Canton, WB6GXO, and Bob Jaehnig, KQ6KT, Hensley Net Control, Virginia McGowen, and Vern Peterson, N6RDY, Structure Protection, Dean Mason, KG6MXZ, Wildland Hoselay, Sam Craig, KG6KEA, Handline Construction, Witt Hawkins, WB6HMK, Mobil Attack, Chuck Banks, W6HYY, Fire Line Survival, Ernie Hoge, KD6TRV, and Rovers/Coordinators, Dick Rekart, W6RFR, and Jerry Thompson, WA6ONA.

The exercise was realistic and offered good training. The morning started off with the communication's van being two hours late, so Hensley Net Control set up temporary communications in my car's mobile, and after an hour of operation the battery had discharged, and Net Control was moved to HT's until the Van arrived. Surely, these kinds of problems will develop in a real incident, and you must be prepared to improvise with back up communications. The field operators were rotated after four hours from one training center to another for four hours of additional training, and experience. The CDF served us a great Tri-Tip lunch. A good time was had by all.

Dick Rekart W6RFR,
MARC Emergency Preparedness Chairman

June 2003 Report

The Hensley 2003 Wildland Fire Exercise is going to be held on Saturday, May 31st. The Amateur Radio operators will provide backup radio communications to the CDF's radio system. We will provide operators in the Mariposa command post, operators in the CDF Communications Van at Hensley, and operators shadowing all the Division Commanders. For the first time ever, VIP Communications have been invited and attended the Incident Commander's planning sessions, and was given sufficient advanced notice. Also, the antenna drop at Mariposa Command was moved to a better location. Safety Nomex Clothing is being ordered for all members of the VIP Communications. Hats off to Chief Jim Forga, and Captain Tracy Cheek. It is a pleasure working with them. In April, Sam Craig, KG6KEA, and Dean Mason, KG6MXZ completed the Wildland Fire Safety Training Course in Mariposa. Congratulations Sam and Dean. This course is required before you can go into any fire area. We now have a 96% completion rate in this course for VIP-Communication personnel. We stand read to serve. And last but not least, we have finally completed issuing all of the CDF-VIP Communication ID cards to all personnel, Wee

Dick Rekart W6RFR,
MARC Emergency Preparedness Chairman

March 2003 Report

The VIP-CDF ID card problem has been solved, and all members should have an up-to-date picture card by the end of February. The Home Study Defensive Driving Course has been distributed to those members who have not taken the course. The course needs to be completed and the answer sheet turned in to Bruce, K6BWO as soon as possible. It is important to complete it in order to be reimbursed for mileage for training exercises or emergency call outs. There will be a Wildland Fire Training Course held in April for those who need the course, and the Hensley Control Burn exercise will be held in the first part of May.

Dick Rekart W6RFR,
MARC Emergency Preparedness Chairman

December 2002 Report

Quite a few things are going on with the CDF-VIP communications program. We are working with several new people including Captain Tracy Cheek. Captain Cheek has received additional defensive driving courses for those who were not able to take it the last time. If you do not take this defensive driving course you will not be to be able to claim reimbursement for your travel expenses.

We now have possession of the new blank ID cards. The cards will be ready to ready to hand out when we have the photos and all your information in.

Bruce K6BWO
Communications Coordinator, CDF-VIP Communications

September 2002 Report

We have a new reporting structure. Captain Nelson has been transferred to Administration. Capt. Tracy Cheek has replaced Capt. Nelson. Chief Burroughs has retired as of July lst, and is replaced by Chief Jim Forga. MARC VIP-CDF reports to Capt. Tracy Cheek, who reports Chief Jim Forga for the Communications Division.

The Hensley Exercise scheduled for June 1st, was called off approximately one hour before the beginning of the exercise due to thunderstorms during the night, causing fires in mountain areas. We had a great team ready to go, and a good plan to receive multiple assignments. The team members were Tom Canton WB6GXO, Virginia McGowen WB6BZZ, Scott Hill K6IX, Jerry Thompson WA6ONA, Bruce Oatman K6BWO John Piotrowski KC6TVK, Ernie Hoge KD6TRV, and Dick Rekart W6RFR. Thanks for your commitment and preparation.

Dick Rekart W6RFR,
MARC Emergency Preparedness Chairman

September 2001 Report

The fire season does not seem to be as bad as we thought it would be. There have been a lot of smaller fires, but none in this area that have been big enough for us to be called up on. Let's hope we don't have the big one.

There is news that those who had their pictures taken and signed their ID cards, will be getting them in August. For those who still have to have their pictures taken, and have a hard time trying to schedule it, I have news for a better method. Captain Grizzell has stated that sending him email requesting to have your picture taken would be a better method to make it happen. Capt. Grizzell email address is: Greg_Grizzell@fire.ca.gov If that fails, try his cell phone: 559-658-1723. There is no new information on the Defensive Driving Course for those who need to take the class. I will email you when I have some definite information.

Dick Rekart,
CDF-VIP Communications, Coordinator

June 2001 Report

The replacement for Captain George Haussemann has been hired, and his name is Captain Dennis Nelson. Chief Dave Burroughs introduced Captain Nelson at the MARC April Club meeting. The CDF-VIP MARC Communications volunteers will now be reporting to Captain Dennis Nelson.

On March 17th, six CDF-VIP Communication Volunteers attended the Wildland Fire Safety Class held at the Mariposa Fairgrounds. All passed with flying colors! There where six additional new volunteers certified in Wildland Fire Safety. This now brings the total CDF-VIP Communications Volunteers to 22 out of 23 certified in Wildland Fire Safety, and qualified to be called up for the next big fire. Congratulations to Tom Canton, WB6GXQ, Witt Hawkins, WB6HMK, Scott Hill, K6IX, Howard Kolbeins, KE6WFJ, Virginia McGowen, WB6BZZ, and Thelma Robinson, W6JBH.

On April 11th, Thirteen CDF-VIP Communication Volunteers attended a Defensive Driving Course at the Mariposa Fairgrounds sponsored by the CDF. In order to receive reimbursement for driving your own vehicle on an exercise or call up, you must now attend this course. We still need ten more volunteers to take this course. There will be another course scheduled in the future.

Our next training exercise, Hensley Lake Control Burn, will be held on June 2nd & 3rd. This is an important exercise, because it simulates a real fire, and is excellent training for the big one!

73's, Dick KE6FUA,
CDF-VIP Communications Coordinator

March 2001 Report

As previously reported, Capt. George Haussemann, is retiring and we will be getting a new leader in the near future. I recently talked to Capt. Dave Burroughs, and was advised that the selection process is taking place and a candidate will be named in the near future.

On December 13th, Virgina McGowen, Jerry Thompson, and myself attended a VIP Appreciation Lunch that was held at the Mt. Bullion Camp for the California Youth Authority. We were given a tour of the Camp by Capt. Chuck Heinback, Commander of the Camp which was followed by lunch and awards for the VIP volunteers. The lunch was prepared by the California Youth Authority inmates, and was outstanding. The Camp provides education and job training for the youths.

Your present ID cards have expired as of December 2000, and new cards are being prepared. The new cards will have your picture on it, but we need to have your picture taken first. You will be called when a time and place are set. We have a new member, Scott Hill, K6IX. Welcome Scott.

73's, Dick KE6FUA,
VIP-CDF MARC Coordinator

September 2000 Report

The Hensley Lake Control Burn Training Exercise was held on June 10'" from 8 AM to 4:30 PM There was a change in our normal participation, instead of positioning a station on a fire engine: the VIP operators were assigned to shadow the Divisional Commanders.

The operators were assigned to the following positions:

Mariposa Command Net (146.745). Bob Jaehnig KQ6KT, and Tom Canton WB6GXQ,

Hensley net Control (147.450 Simplex),

Communications Van, Robbie Robinson W6GME.

Division A, Structure Protection, John Piotrowski KC6TVK,

Division B, Wildland Hose Lays. Dick Rekart KE6FUA,

Division C, Hand Line Construction, Jerry Thompson WA6ONA,

Division D, Mobile Attack Operations, Glenn Eisley W6NDR, and

Division E, Firefighting Survival, Bruce Oatman K6BWO.

There were several occasions where The CDF radio communications failed, and our back up net provided the communications needed to complete the task. Messages were passed from Hensley Divisions to Mariposa Command requesting supplies to simulate emergency conditions. All in All, the VIP Operators felt that it was a successful and stimulating exercise. A report was sent to Captain George Haussemann on where improvements could be made to do a better job on the next exercise or incident.

73's, Dick KE6FUA, CDF-VIP Communications Coordinator

June 2000 Report

The VIP-CDF monthly meeting is held on the first Thursday of each month at 09:00, in conjunction with the RACES/ARES meeting at the Sierra Senior Center.

The Wildland Fire Safety Training Course was held by CDF on April 15th at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds with the following MARC VIP attendees: Chuck Banks W6HYY, Tom Haley W6LRS, Bart Nagel W6SRK, Bruce Oatman K6BWO, Robbie Robinson W6GME, Jerry Thompson WA6ONA, Bob Uebersax KK6VS, Gil Ward N6NTV, and myself. We now have fourteen (14) members available and ready for CDF Wildland Fire call outs.

We have been appointed a new leader at the CDF in Mariposa. Capt. Mike Olivarria was transferred to Amador/El Dorado Ranger Unit. His replacement and our new leader is George Haussmann, who comes from the Merced unit, and presently is in training on his new assignment in Mariposa.

Our next training exercise is the Hensley Lake Control Burn to be held on June 10th and 11th. This is a great exercise because it simulates a real fire condition, and prepares us for next big fire call out.

73's, Dick KE6FUA, VIP-CDF MARC Coordinator