AFTER ACTION REPORTS (FIRES, LOST PERSON SEARCH, POWER OUTAGES, SNOW STORMS, ...); PRACTICE NETS, DRILLS,   ETC...

 Return to Main SER Page

  SER 1/21/2021: PRACTICE NET REPORT - READ REPORT  HERE

  SER  1/18/2021  - FIRE NET ACTIVATED - READ REPORT HERE

   SER - 1/14/2020 - Internet and Cell Phone outage (at approx. 2210 hours)

        Village (K6PDS); Rest Area (W6MWM); and Starlight (AJ6KJ) reported Internet outage and Cell phone outage at approximately 2210 hours on 760. All Stations advised to monitor for any emergency / priority traffic as persons relying on voice over IP and/or Cell Phones would not have telephone capability.

  SER   1/14/2021: Practice Net   

   SER  - DRILL - EXPLOSION NET. THIS IS A DRILL ONLY.  OBJECTIVE IS TO LOCATE SOURCE AREA AND ADVISE 911 OF SUCH. THIS APPEARS BETTER THAN  CALLING 911 AND SAYING (AT 2:00 A.M.) THAT - "WE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION SOMEWHERE". PLANNED DRILL- READ HERE.   Drill example, A LARGE PROPANE TANK EXPLODING, ETC... .

  SER   1/07/2021: Practice Net  -

     SER - 1/7/2021 POWER OUTAGE. WITHIN 1 MINUTE OF THE POWER OUTAGE IN THE VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD, REPORTS WERE BEING TAKEN (AND RECORDED) AS TO THE LOCATIONS AND EXTENT OF THE UNPLANNED POWER OUTAGE. AS  A RESULT,  PARTICIPATING AREAS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY KNEW THE SITUATION FOR ALL OTHER PARTICIPATING  / REPORTING NEIGHBORHOODS. THE REPORTS COVERED IN EXCESS OF 200 SQUARE MILES OF AREA.   SO, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT, THE PHONES DON'T WORK, THERE IS NO INTERNET, AND YOU CAN'T EVEN DIAL 911 ... ?

      SER - 1/6/2021 - UPDATE Your Area Preparedness:

    SER - 12/31/2020 - NO PRACTICE NETS - NEW YEARS EVE.

     SER ADVISORY 12/27/2020 (Sunday)

    SER Activation:  12/26/2020

  SER 12/24/2020 - No Practice - Christmas Eve

  SER12/17/2020: Practice Net  - GREAT JOB SHINGLETOWN STATIONS!

   SER12/10/2020: Practice Net  - GREAT JOB SHINGLETOWN STATIONS!

  SER 12/10/2020:  SHINGLETOWN POWER OUTAGE (SOME AREAS)  - RECOMMENDED ON AIR THAT AREAS IMPACTED CONDUCT QWA  PERIODICALLY. NOTE: OUTAGES OVER 6 HOURS- FRONTIER BACK UP BATTERIES FOR LAND LINES RISK FAILURE OF LAND LINE COMMUNICATIONS. IMPACTS ABILITY TO CALL 911. INFORMATION ADVISORY MADE ON 760.

POWER OUTAGE STATUS (SOME AREAS WERE NOT AWARE THAT THERE WOULD BE AN OUTAGE):

  SER 12/10/2020: FORMAT ROMEO 15 UPDATED - SER NEEDS MORE HAMS TO ACT AS AREA COORDINATORS (E.G., RELAYS FROM NON HAMS TO/FROM HAM NET).

When we had the recent fire under the High Voltage Power Lines near Midway, Inwood and the Village (and extremely close to other homes), some of the Hams from the local Ham "club" listened to that SER Fire Net. They heard the requests by Fire Control for Ham operators to please assist - and they did not render any assistance.  As a result, a Non Ham had to agrain be used for a very short period of time by Fire Control.  

On the very positive side, there are  individual Hams who are helping the SER Plan. They include:  KQ6CS, KE6POV, KB6BZL, KE6PCR, K6PDS, and W6MWM. Their assistance is greatly appreciated!  Please let them know that you appreciate the service they are providing to Shingletown.   If I mistakenly left your call sign out, please call me so that I can correct this information. 

We need more Hams because not all of us may be available at the same time of an emergency.

  SER  12/3/2020: Practice Net  - GREAT JOB SHINGLETOWN STATIONS!

SHINGLETOWN EMERGENCY RADIO PLAN:    PRACTICE NET REPORT. DATED:  12/3/2020     TIME:  1900 HOURS
Type of Net:	Practice Net
Frequencies - HAM	Primary on 760	MONITOR: 505
Frequencies - NON HAM	Areas: CH 1
TONE ANNOUNCE TYPE:	NON EMERGENCY	NON EMERGENCY
Activations:	Full - all areas	QXA (Sitrep)	QWA - Brevit Fire Watch Procedure
Divisions Reporting	3
Areas Reporting	4
Station Reports	33
Ham Net and all Area / Neighborhood Nets Completed  SUMMARIZED AND NCS RECOMMENDATION in:	23 minutes
Tacticals Activated:	NCS        :  K6PDS	MAPPING  I:  KQ6CS	CAL FIRE MONIT: KQ6CS
	505 Monit:  K6PDS	MAPPING  2: K6PDS
	160 TC    :  K6PDS	TRIANGUL 1:  -------

11-18-2020 - Shingletown had an unplanned Power Outage.

At approx. 1150 hours power went out.  At approx 1225 hours, power was restored.

The Following Areas/Neighborhoods were monitoring and reported on 165 for a quick situation report (both when the power went out and when it was restored):  

Village; Circle K; Rest Area; Starlite; Battle Creek; Bible Belt.

Midway was contacted on its Ch1 and reported both when power out and power back  on.

Dersch / 44 reported - their area / neighborhood power was never off during this event.  Great Job!

Reports were also provided during the above brief net, as to status of Cell phone (out in Starlite) and reports from PG&E as to estimated time for restoration  (which was to be at 1650 hours. But,  fortune was on our side and power came back on much sooner.

 The Village responded and reported on its Ch 1 within about 1 minute or less of  Village F1 requesting reports from Village stations when the power went off on Figaro.  There were 9 stations dispersed throughout the Village that immediately reported that Power was Out (others were monitoring and able to learn what was going on). Think about that  - stations from all over the Village, had an immediate situation report for the entire neighborhood within about 1 minute, or less !  The Village report was relayed into the above Ham abbreviated SITREP Net. Also, the Entire Power off and back on  situation reports for all of the Area / Neighborhoods which reported for all of Shingletown was also relayed into the Village on Village Ch 1.

Great job to all Areas/Neighborhoods which were on frequency and reporting.

Thank you.

Nathan, 

Shingletown Emergency Radio Plan

11-14-2020 Shingletown Emergency Radio PLAN. What Shingletown has that others in California do not have.  Read HERE.  

Video Link is also Here (referenced in above)  https://youtu.be/F3OX1PR2SCM

11-13-2020. WE NEED MORE HAMS TO HELP OUT.  THINK ABOUT THIS HYPOTHETICAL.  LET'S TAKE TWO AREAS WITH CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM.  SO,  IF ONE THINKS THAT A FIRE AT DERSCH /44 IS NO BIG DEAL TO THE BIBLE BELT AREA, THINK AGAIN. IT'S CALLED MUTUAL ASSISTANCE.  NOW, LET'S REVERSE THE "NEED" CONTINUUM.  

THUS,  IF BIBLE BELT IS EVACUATING FROM A RAGING FIRESTORM, WORKING WITH BLOCKED ROADS,  TRAFFIC CONGESTION,  AND HELPING DISABLED PEOPLE...,  BIBLE BELT HAMS WILL MOST LIKELY NOT BE RUNNING A HAM FIRE NET.  THEY WILL BE TRYING TO SAVE THEIR LIVES.    BUT, PEOPLE IN BIBLE BELT WILL STILL WANT  AND NEED TO GET A PICTURE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING.  WHERE IS THE FIRE?  WHICH DIRECTION IS IT HEADING? WHAT ROADS ARE BLOCKED, ETC...?  IN THAT CASE, DERSCH/44 COULD ACT AS NET CONTROL (FIRE CONTROL), COORDINATING VITAL INFORMATION AND REPORTING.  IN THAT WAY BIBLE BELT (AND OTHER AREAS) KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, AND THEY HAVE A CENTRAL FIRE NET  LOCATION WHICH CAN DO MAPPING, TRIANGULATION, RELAY CAL FIRE REPORTS FROM DISPATCH AND TACTICALS, AND PROVIDE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION AT THE FIRE LOCATION, ETC... .  ALL OF THAT WHILE YOU, FLEEING BIBLE BELT ARE MOBILE AND TRYING TO GET OUT. THAT IS PART OF THE SER PROGRAM.

MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IS ESSENTIAL, AND THE SER PLAN PROVIDES IT.  THE SER PLAN HAS BEEN TESTED AND WORKS.  BUT, IT NEEDS YOU TO HELP OUT! 

WE ALL WILL ONE DAY NEED HELP.   SER.  73 

11-13-2020 at – Thumper Incident (Village) - limited Area Activation. 

 At approx. 0258 hours Cal Fire tone out for Shasta Forest Village. Fire in area of 30806 Thumper Drive –spread to vegetation. Village alerted on Village Ch 1 (Murs). Fire on fence, wood pile, vegetation, and pile of  grass.   Fire contained 10’ X 10’ approx. area.  Village Fire Net deactivated 0318 hours.

 Great job Village

Nathan, Shingletown Emergency Radio Plan

11-12-2020 Practice Nets:   We had:

   Standard Tone / Announce on 760,  165,   505

   Net was held on 165. We did not use 760 because of pending storms and need to conserve battery power (solar).

   Area Nets on Each Areas  / Neighborhoods  Channel 1 (non ham frequencies).

   WE HAD (same as last week):
   4 Divisions Reporting

   6 Areas

  32 Station Reports

 Activations: Sit Rep QXA; and  QWA (Fire Brevity Watch procedure conducted by each station reporting)

 

We had the Following Tacticals on Frequency:

  Net control and 160 TC     K6PDS

  Cal Fire Monitor            KQ6CS

  Mapping 1                     KQ6CS

  TRIANGULATION 1          K6PDS

  505 MONITOR                   K6PDS

 

ALL NEIGHBORHOOD NETS, PLUS: REPORTING FROM AREA COORDINATORS RECEIVED; HAM MAPPING, HAM TRIANGULATION, AND NET CONTROL SUMMARY / RECOMMENDATION -- ALL COMPLETED IN  30 MINUTES.  Again, we were very short staffed this evening. Still, the SER system provided for efficient summarization and mapping procedures to be done. That is why areas need to follow the SER procedures.  It is all coordinated.

We also had a station report while mobile at Dersch/44 (heading east bound). Thank you. The SER Net reporting covered all the way from Dersch/44 )(mobile) to Battle Creek.

WE NEED MORE HAMS TO HELP OUT. PLEASE JOIN IN.

 

GREAT JOB.

Nathan  K6PDS     73
Shingletown Emergency Radio Plan

11-11-2020 Forest Incident: Approx 1838  Cal Fire Toned out - Shingletown Fire - spread to vegitation - in brush. In Area of Power Lines.

Fire: Location Near Power Lines approx 2 miles Westerly of Village and 1 mile south of Highway 44.

ALSO:  CAL FIRE REPORTED - FLAMES VISIBLE FROM HIGHWAY 44 ( approx a mile from Highway 44). 

CAL FIRE ALSO REPORTED - POWER LINES DOWN.  FURTHER, THE VILLAGE (WITH ABOUT 400 HOMES)  IS ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE FIRE  AND THERE IS ONLY 1 SMALL ROAD IN AND OUT OF THE VILLAGE. IF THAT ROAD IS BLOCKED BY FIRE, 400 HOMES WITH RESIDENTS WOULD BE TRAPPED WITH NO ESCAPE. OTHER HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS ARE NEAR THE FIRE LOCATION.

         Approx.  Long / Lat:  Approx  121.9435    40.4974  (Fire Mappers)

Screen Shot (Fire Mappers) showing location of fire and Neighborhoods of  Midway; Inwood; and Village - HERE.

In the area of 29788 CASSIE LANE

Estimates:  1 - 1/2  to  2 acres at one point.

Possible cause: KV lines (per Cal fire radio report) (I understand those are the bulk transport electrical lines).

 

HAM NET:

FIRE CONTROL:                      K6PDS  (NATHAN)

BACK UP FIRE CONTROL:    VILLAGE

INTERNET :                              KK6SWE (LARRY)

CAL FIRE MONITOR              KE6PCR / KB6BZL (PEGGY AND DON)

TAC 11                                      KE6PCR / KB6BZL (PEGGY AND DON)

THANK YOU LARRY, PEGGY AND DON!

 

FIRE CONTROL HAD TO USE A NON HAM TO FILL IN FOR FIRE CONTROL AS BACK UP (NECESSITY).

DURING THE FIRE NET (760, 165 AND 505 WERE TONED)  MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WERE MADE FOR ANY HAM TO PLEASE HELP OUT (THIS WAS ON 760).  NO RESPONSE. FIRE CONTROL HAD TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE FROM ONE NON HAM.

 

FIRE CONTROL ACTIVITIES INCLUDED: RUNNING FIRE NET (TONING AND ACTIVATING ON ALL SCAN PLAN FREQUENCIES);  REVIEWING INTERNET RESOURCES THAT MAY BE REQUIRED; MAPPING THE FIRE LOCATION AND PLOTTING ON TRIANGULATION MAP; DETERMINING WIND SPEED AT FIRE LOCATION AND DIRECTION; MONITORING VILLAGE TRAFFIC (after activating Village on Village Ch1 (Murs Freq)); ACTIVATING INWOOD AND MIDWAY.

FIRE CONTROL USED MURS TO ACTIVATE INWOOD  AND MIDWAY ON EACH OF THEIR CH 1 (THUS USED BACK UP FIRE CONTROL WHILE OFF FREQUENCY).  . BOTH AREAS RESPONDED AND ACTIVATED..

GREAT JOB INWOOD!

GREAT JOB MIDWAY!

VILLAGE HAD AT LEAST 10 STATIONS ON VILLAGE CH 1 (I.E., THEY RESPONDED TO CHECK IN). GREAT JOB VILLAGE! THERE ARE AT LEAST 46 RADIOS IN THE VILLAGE ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO LISTEN TO THE EMERGENCY NET AND CAL FIRE DISPATCH FREQUENCY - MANY ARE ELDERLY / DISABLED AND ONLY LISTEN..

Great Job to Bravo 1 - Village Lead on Village Ch #1.

 

FIRE NET DEACTIVATED  1936 HOURS.

SUPPLEMENTAL:  2 HAMS ADVISED THEY WERE OUT OF AREA, BUT WOULD HAVE HELPED IF AT HOME. THANK YOU.

 2 HAMS ADVISED THAT THEY WERE LISTENING, ON FREQUENCY, BUT DIDN'T HELP.  OTHER HAMS - UNKNOWN.

FIRE CONTAINED AT 2 ACRES.

NATHAN  K6PDS

SHINGLETOWN EMERGENCY RADIO

  11-11-2020 QWI - INFORMATION: Fire NW Whitmore. NO SER ACTIVATION.

Incident within WASP (WILDFIRE ALERT SAFETY PERIMETER).

No activation.

Monitored Cal Fire. Fire confined to property. Cause: discarded ashes.

NW of Whitmore.  Approx Lat/long   40.637  121.902   (RESOURCE: Fire Mapping)

Thank you to Village Sierra 6 - who was also monitoring and made contact with me.

No SER Net activation done since Fire Incident did not meet criteria for SER Net Activation.

Nathan  K6PDS    DIRECTOR (TACTICAL: "ADVISOR")

Shingletown Emergency Radio Plan

  11-8-2020: The Village (Division 3 North  - T31N  R1E Section 31) has updated its Area Map with each Station Tactical being posted to the Village Street Map (this shows the location of each station). There are 46 Tacticals in the Village. Great Job Village.  Each area should update its Area Map.

  11-7-2020:  760 backup plan.  The 760 may go down during winter (solar power).  Consideration is being given to setting up a backup 760 repeater when the main 760 is off line.  This back up would not have as good of footprint, but would be useful for emergency communications.   BACK UP ID:   K6PDS /R7.  NOTE:  /R7 BEING CONSIDERED  INSTEAD OF  /R2, BECAUSE 165 USES /R2. THUS, FACILITATES REPEATER ID WHEN YOU ARE MOBILE AND ONLY CATCH PART OF THE REPEATER ID. THIS WILL TAKE A WHILE.

11-7 and 11-8,  2020 (interference with emergency communication plan):  From about 11:30 P.M. (11-7-2020), and continuing until about 1:30 A.M. (11-8-2020), someone repeatedly activated the 760 and 165 repeaters and also keyed 505.   Repeater activation results in repeater ID and tail signals to be transmitted. These are the SER Scan Plan Frequencies.  If you know who this person is, please ask them to stop. This type of activity results in residents turning off their radios because they don't want to be awakened for mischief. In that case, if there were to be a fire or other emergency activation, they would not hear any activation. This could result in loss of life.  The SER Plan covers about 150 square miles of area.  This is a serious matter. Thank you.

    11-7-2020:        The Official SER Plan continues to operate. 

Use the Scan Plan 760  165 and 505 (as has been done for years), and your neighborhood frequencies (Ch 1).  Such are programmed into your radios.  As under SER procedures, Net Control will advise of  the Ham Net Frequency upon Net Activation, just as has been done for years (even before the neighborhood Murs system was added by me).  Of course, Neighborhoods would go to their Ch 1 and can listen to the Ham Net.

Many people have written that they appreciate the SER Program, have found it very helpful during the many wildfire threats that we have been faced with this year,  and want it to continue.

The SER Plan is fully operational. Any Ham can assist. But, SER procedures are to be followed.

Hopefully, enough Hams will step up and help out so we aren't faced with having to make decisions that some may find disagreeable. The primary purpose of the SER Net is emergency communications to provide vital information, at a time when it matters to safeguard the residents of Shingletown. Wildfires can cover large distances in a matter of seconds.

 

For this to work participation by all is necessary, since this is a volunteer effort.

Emergency use of non hams is very rare, but, as during the recent double wildfire emergency such use was necessary, and legal, as determined by Fire Control (an Attorney at Law) in accordance with FCC rules. So, non hams are fully aware that they are not to use any Ham Frequency unless it is an emergency. The criteria for this was previously sent out. .

Last Thursday's Practice Net went very well, and was able to be completed in the normal Net Time because of the SER Procedures. 

Thank you.

Nathan

Shingletown Emergency Radio Plan

http://www.shastadefense.com/ShastaEmergencyRadio.htm

 

http://www.shastadefense.com/SER-Incident-Resources-Information.htm

 

http://www.shastadefense.com/SER-REPORTS-AFTERACTION.htm

 

  11-5-2020 Practice Nets:  Tonights Practice Net - We had:

  10-30-2020 - NEED MORE HAM OPERATORS!

10-28-2020 - SER FIRE NET ACTIVATED - LOW LEVEL ACTIVATION.

 KF6JAQ ALERTED ON 760 OF FIRE IN AREA OF LAKE MCCUMBER AREA. OFF OF WESTWARD HO -  BIG TREES LANE.  INCIDENT: PONY.  

FIRE NET ACTIVATED  ON 760 (KE6DHO - FIRE CONTROL).  RECOMMENDED THAT LOCAL AREAS BE ALERTED ON THEIR CH 1 AND NEARBY STATIONS CONDUCT QWA PROCEDURE AND REPORT IF HAVE SOMETHING TO REPORT.  DETERMINED THAT FIRE WAS APPROX. 10 x 10 AREA- CAUSE ASH ;PILE.  FIRE PUT OUT. FIRE NET DEACTIVATED. THANK YOU TO ALL ON FREQUENCY. TACTICALS ACTIVATED INCLUDED:  FIRE CONTROL; FLIGHT RADAR; TAC 11 MONITOR; CAL FIRE MONITOR.  LAT / LONG IN AREA OF 121.756   40.529 (APPROX).

CONCERN:  THE FIRE WAS IN THE EMIGRANT  AREA WHICH IS NOT PARTICIPATING IN SER PROGRAM. WE NEED ALL NEIGHBORHOODS TO PARTICIATE. 

10-24-2020 – SER FIRE NET ACTIVATED – MODERATE LEVEL ACTIVATION.

 CAL FIRE TONE OUT FOR FIRE IN AREA OF 33595 CEDAR VIEW LANE, SHINGLETOWN (STARLITE AREA – DIVISION 4 NORTH).

FIRE NET ACTIVATED AT APPROX 2209 HOURS.  FIRE CONTROL SET UP CAL FIRE MONITOR AND CAL FIRE TACTICAL MONITOR.

 FIRE NET REQUESTED ALL PARTICIPATING AREAS BE ACTIVATED /  NOTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: ASH CREEK DERSCH; FISHER; DERSCH / 44; INWOOD; MIDWAY; VILLAGE; CIRECLE K; REST;  STARLITE;  BATTLE CR.;  BIBLE BELT; WILSON HILL.  ALL SUCH AREAS REPORTED ACTIVATED / NOTIFIED (SEE FMT ROMEO 15).  

CAL FIRE ADVISED PG&E 45 MINUTE ETA.  STARLITE STATION REPORTED PG&E POWER STILL ON IN STARLITE.  

FIRE INCIDENT:   STRUCTURE FULLY  INVOLVED; VEIGITATION ¼ ACRE SLOW RATE OF SPREAD. WATER TENDERS BEING GIVEN DIRECTIONS ON WHERE FIRE HYDRANTS WERE LOCATED.  

DURING NET, BEFORE DEACTIVATION; CAL FIRE CANCELLED DOZER, CANCELLED ADDITIONAL CREW, FIREMAN WITH EYE INJURY, ETC… .

 FIRE NET DEACTIVATED AT APPROX. 2333  HOURS.

STATIONS ON FREQUENCY AGREED TO DEACTIVATION AND FIRE CONTROL DEACTIVATED NET. ALL AREAS REPORTED AS DEACTIVATING.

 SUMMARY: SHINGLETOWN AREAS ALERTED / ACTIVATED  DURING NET WERE :  6 DIVISIONS; 12 AREAS (COVERING OVER 100 SQUARE MILES).

 AFTER ACTION COMMENTS:

 1. AREA LEADS MUST USE OUTSIDE ANTENNA AND TONE. YOU ARE RUNNING AN AREA NET AND EVERYONE IN YOUR AREA MUST HEAR YOU.  EVERYONE SHOULD  GET OUTSIDE ANTENNAS. THE SHORT ANTENNAS ON YOUR RADIOS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT!  

2.  ADDRESS NET CONTROL STATIONS BY THEIR TACTICALS (NOT CALL SIGN – USE FCC CALL SIGN ONLY FOR LEGAL ID. DO NOT OVER ID). THE TACTICAL DESCIBES WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO PEOPLE LISTENING. ALSO, DIFFERENT OPERATORS MY GO AND COME FOR A PARTICULAR TASK.  EXAMPLES:   FIRE CONTROL;   CAL FIRE MONITOR;  CAL FIRE TACTICAL  MONITOR,  ETC…

 3.  WHEN YOUR AREA IS ACTIVATED AND YOU HEAR A REPORT, THEN NOTIFY YOU NEIGHBORS WHO DON’T HAVE RADIOS BY PHONE AND OR GOING TO THEIR HOME (DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF CONCERN).  BETTER YET, HAVE THEM GET RADIOS, AND JOIN IN. 

 4. ALSO,  IF  YOU HAD TO EVACTUATE, THEN NEIGHORHOOD LEADS SHOULD ADVISE ALL STATIONS TO BLAST CAR HORNS LOUDLY AND REPEATEDLY TO GET PEOPLES ATTENTION.  IF YOU HAVE A BETTER SYSTEM IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THEN PLEASE SHARE IT WITH US.

 5.  ALL AREAS SHOULD HAVE AREA MAPS AND AREA TELEPHONE TREES.

 7.  WHEN YOU CALL “FIRE CONTROL”, MERELY STATE “FIRE CONTROL, [THIS IS] CAL FIRE MONITOR”,  THEN WAIT.  DO NOT START GIVING A REPORT UNTIL FIRE CONTROL ADVISES YOU TO “GO”. WHY?  FIRE CONTROL IS WORKING 3 RADIOS, TAKING AND REVIEWING NOTES, AND (IF AVAILABLE) LOOKIN UP INFORMATION ON THE SER INCIDENT / RESOURCE PAGE ON THE INTERNET (AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE), AND OTHER TASKS.

 8.  IF YOU WERE NOT ON FREQUENCY, THEN WHAT WAS YOUR PLAN?

  GREAT JOB!

 THANK YOU.

 NATHAN   K6PDS

SHINGLETOWN EMERGENCY RADIO NETS

10/22/2020 - Practice net: All nets competed in approx.  27  minutes, with 5 Divisions, 10 Areas (each having  conducted its own neighorhood net) and 38 station reports (including supplemental) ,  all mapped and summarized (i.e., all neighborhood net report results) and recommendation(s) issued by Net Control.  In excess of 115 square miles covered. 

All Divisions reporting in reported  (except Dersch /44 and Fisher) 

                  as follows:  QXA                                                     QWA

Dersch  44 as follows:                 QXi D  / A2                /Y        QWA

Fisher as follows       :                  QXi D / A2   /B  /E     /Y         QWA

                                                              "/A2" means no PG&E power, stations using generator power.

                                                                        "/B"    means no Telephone land line.

                                                                              '"/E" means no internet

                                                                                        "/Y"  (for area report QTH N ) means "I am okay, my area okay, and any assistance needs in my area are being taken care of by my area, no out of area assistance needed at this time." (See Format Tango 9A definitions)

Net Control Recommendations: no action required; but, due to high fire dangers (Red Flag) , all operators should conduct QWA procedures routinely during night and day, reporting only if have situation to report; and, Due to use of generators for electrical power (Dersch/44 and Fisher Areas), all generators should be routinely checked to ensure safe operation; and due to lack of PG&E electrical power (Dersch /44 and Fisher Areas), stations  to monitor the scan plan at high level (people may not have phone use to make emergency calls (Fisher also without PG&E power, using generators, and has no landline and no internet).

Great job. 

Hams and/or Non Hams relayed Ham Net Summary and recommendations into Neighborhood Nets immediately after SER Ham Net

10/16/2020  - Below Areas reporting Power Restoration after PG&E Power Shutoff because of High Fire Danger. Power reported as back on via Radio, allowing all Areas to have immediate situational awareness during continuing High Fire Danger period. Areas reporting with Power Restoration Times were:

Wilson Hill      1301 hours

Dersch / 44    1314 hours

Circle K         1345 hours

Rest Area       1346 hours

Bilble Belt       1354 hours

Battle Creek   1402 hours

Village             1402 hours

Starlite             1420 hours

Midway           1615 hours.

Thank you to the above areas.

Note: Lack of  PG& E power has in the past resulted in lack of ability to call 911 and receive reverse 911 calls (e.g., Feb, 2019 - massive storm and power outages, no 911, no reverse 911, no cell phones, no landlines, no internet, etc...  total communications blackout). Only operating community communications plan was the Shingletown Emergency Radio Plan. Also, during 10/2020 PG&E Safety Shutoff, there was a fire in Shingletown caused by a home generator exploding. Many people are running generators to supply power during "safety" power shutoffs. This may be considered a potential risk of wildfire with thousands of generators running in high fire danger areas. The Shingletown Emergency Communications Plan allows everyone to have access to vital information when it is happening.

10/15/2020 - Practice net: All nets competed in approx.  30  minutes, with 5 Divisions, 11 Areas (each having  conducted its own neighorhood net) and 39 station reports,  all mapped and summarized (i.e., all neighborhood net report results) and recommendation(s) issued by Net Control.  In excess of 117 square miles covered. 

QXI D/A2 /Y and  QWA. 

Net Control Recommendations: no action required; and, due to high fire dangers, all operators should conduct QWA procedures routinely during night and day, reporting only if have situation to report; and, Due to high use of generators for electrical power, all generators should be routinely checked to ensure safe operation; and due to lack of electrical power, statoins to monitor the scan plan at high level (people may not have phone use to make emergency calls).

Great job. 

Hams and/or Non Hams relayed Ham Net Summary and recommendations into Neighborhood Nets immediately after SER Ham Net

10/15/2020: SER NET – MODERATE LEVEL SER FIRE NET ACTIVATION:

 APPROX 0445 HOURS -  GENERATOR EXPLOSION, STRUCTURE FIRE WITH SPREAD TO VEGITATION.  MODERATE LEVEL SER FIRE NET ACTIVATION: TX INTO STARLITE AREA CH 1. LOCATION: 34037 Highway 44. LAT / LONG:  approx. -121.783   40.513,  JUST EAST OF STARLITE PINES ROAD. PINE IC. LAND LINE CALL TO AREA LEAD.

 TX  ON 760 AS TO STATUS.   TX AS TO FOLLOW UP:  FIRE IN SHET  KNOCKED OUT, SPREAD TO VEGITATION STOPPED, MEDICAL UNIT CANCELLED (APPROX 0518) (SMOKE INHALATION), CAL FIRE CANCELING ASSETS (APPROX. O525 HOURS).

9/24/2020 - Practice net: All nets competed in approx.  22  minutes, with 5 Divisions, 10 Areas (each having  conducted its own neighorhood net) and 42 station reports,  all mapped and summarized (i.e., all neighborhood net report results) and recommendation(s) issued by Net Control.  In excess of 100 square miles covered. QXA and QWA. Great job. Hams and/or Non Hams to relay Ham Net Summary and recommendations into Neighborhood Nets immediately after SER Ham Net.

9/17/2020 - Practice net: All nets competed in approx.  24  minutes, with 5 Divisions, 10 Areas (each having  conducted its own neighorhood net) and 39 station reports,  all mapped and summarized (i.e., all neighborhood net report results) and recommendation(s) issued by Net Control.   QXA and QWA. . Hams and/or Non Hams to relay Ham Net Summary and recommendations into Neighborhood Nets immediately after SER Ham Net.

9/13/2020  SER – Activation – Search for Missing Person – Viola Area

 This evening, Cal Fire radio reported a missing person in the Viola area (was last seen at about 1730 hours).  K6PDS copied the traffic and K6IZY (from Redding, on the other side of the Valley) immediately called out on the Scan Plan to advise of the situation.  Great job K6IZY.   K6PDS called the non emergency number for the Sheriff and obtained a detailed description of the person (white female, approx age 24, curly dark blond hair, wearing shorts and tank top, and had a redish and white dog with her. She was hearing impaired, autistic and her name was provided.  The detailed description was announced on the 760 repeater. Ham operators were ON FREQUENCY, MONITORING and copied the description. K6PDS took two bites of his dinner, 2 sips of Dr. Pepper, and loaded up 2 radios, spare batteries, compass, first aid supply kit, two large flashlights (with spare batteries), water, jackets, and left for the VIOLA area accompanied by Village Foxtrot 7.  Upon arriving in Viola, the Sheriff advised that Highway 44 heading West bound did not need to be searched (as they had arrived via that route, just as we had). He advised that we could search Highway 44 heading East bound, which we did. The Sheriff and Cal Fire were fanning out in various directions.

As we searched, HAM OPERATORS WERE ON FREQUENCY AND PROVIDED RELAY REPORTS AND  INFORMATION. THEY WERE MONITORING CAL FIRE AND THE SHERIFF FREQUENCIES AND PROVIDED UPDATES. AJ6KJ provided supplemental information that the mental age of the person was about 5.  At one time, our mobile search had questions and requested that a relay telephone call be placed to the Sheriff.   W6BEN and  KF6JAQ, responded and called the Sheriff and reported back with the requested information. AJ6KJ, W6CCR, W6BEN, KF6JAQ, KB6BZL, KE6PCR,  ?? VXW, W6IO  K6IZY AND KE6DHO AND OTHERS WERE ALL ON FREQUENCY. They all participated and helped out. Being on Frequency is critical.  Radio traffic was concise, disciplined and effective.   As we were returning back to the Christian Camp staging area (having completed searching approximately 5.4 miles each way of highway 44 in both directions) K6IZY advised on the radio that the missing person had now been found, and had been returned home safely.  We stopped at the staging area, and the Sheriff’s deputy made it a point to say thank you to ALL OF THE HAMS that helped out. That means each of you!!  At 2020 hours, returning to home base.

 This turned out very well (the young lady was found safe and returned home). The Ham operators were on frequency and monitoring. They were at the ready and took action.  Great job!

 GOD BLESS AND THANK YOU.  

 Nathan   K6PDS    73    Shingletown Emergency Radio Plan  

9/10/2020 - Practice net: All nets competed in approx.  27  minutes, with 5 Divisions, 11 Areas (each having  conducted its own neighborhood net) (plus one out of Area - Redding); and 39 station reports,  all mapped and summarized (i.e., all neighborhood net report results) and recommendation(s) issued by Net Control.  QXA and QWA. Great job. Hams and/or Non Hams to relay Ham Net Summary and recommendations into Neighborhood Nets immediately after SER Ham Net.

  9/7/2020 SER NET - FIRE NET ACTIVATION:

This evening we had 2  (TWO) FIRES AT THE SAME TIME. 

The Bear Incident and the Buffalo Incident. 

 The SER Fire Net was activated, and stations helped out by monitoring the Cal Fire Tactical, Cal fire Dispatch, and Internet Fire Mapping and other resources. Hams and Non Hams were advised to contact their neighborhoods on Ch 1 and advise of the situation. Stations were advised to monitor the Fire Net on the 760 repeater and / or Cal Fire Ch 20 for information and to relay information into their neighborhoods (anyone can do this – Hams and/or Non Hams).  The Fire Net was deactivated at 1954 hours.

 Thank you to all Hams and Non Hams that were on frequency and helping out!

 Background:

 1.  Village Bravo 1 (non ham), was the first radio report which alerted as to the fire. This transmit was done into Village Ch1.  K6PDS heard  Village Bravo 1 give the Village Alert, and  K6PDS in turn activated the Ham Fire Net on 760. Great job Village Bravo 1!  This is an important point. Specifically, here a non Ham neighborhood’s action (alerting) resulted in activating the Ham Net for all Shingletown areas.  That is the SER PLAN in action. Great Job by the Village! So, that was the first incident.

 2.  Next, as the above was taking place, I received a phone call advising of the 2^nd fire. I didn’t catch the name of the person who called. Thank you to that person!  Now we had two active fires. 

 3.  Everyone did a great job.

 COMMENTS / AFTER ACTION (this is done so that we can improve):

 1.  During nets, we should use tacticals. Example, the net control tonight was “Fire Control”.  We don’t call for his call sign (K6PDS), we call for “Fire control”.  Why?  Because, the FCC call sign is not relevant to the job being done.  If a different station takes over, that station then becomes “Fire Control” and we don’t waste time asking who is running the net. “Fire Control” is running the net (in this case). Fire Control ID’s with his FCC call sign to comply with the law, but that is only every 10 minutes, and on last transmit. Don’t keep saying your call sign.

 2.  I made an error in giving the channel number of the frequency to be monitored by another station.  My mistake (K6PDS).  In this regard, it is perfectly proper for another station to come back and say –  “Fire Control, please confirm channel – there is an error”.  Correcting an error made by any of us is not personal. This is urgent business and we need to correct any errors and move forward. Also, unless an explanation is relevant and material, don’t explain.

 3.  The STARC net was scheduled for 1900 hours tonight. W6IO cancelled the regularly scheduled Net because the Fire Net was active when the STARC net was to start.  That was an excellent decision by W6IO. Why?  Because, the Ham Radio Operators, who have been practicing , are a vital asset, and must be on deck during the Fire Net.  Thank you W6IO.      

 4.  During an incident is not the time to start asking how to program your radios. Fire Control is not going to spend time advising a station how to program a radio during an active fire (in this case 2 fires near us burning at the same time).  Also, other Ham Operators need to be ready to assist with the Fire Net, not dealing with programming radios. So, such requests are to be ignored. We have persons who will help program radios before emergencies.  During an emergency, operators who have actually practiced must devote their skills to the emergency.

 5.  Also, please don’t be asking stations to respond to you on another SCAN PLAN FREQUENCY during an event, unless it is urgent. Why?  Because, Fire Control is monitoring the SCAN PLAN FREQUENCIES  (760, 165, 505)  while running the Fire Net.  Non relevant talk is a Major distraction.  Also, Emergency Communication Nets, under the SER PLAN are to be held only those Scan Plan frequencies.  If someone is chatting on a Scan Plan frequency, this can result in stations (who heard an activation and are searching for the net) hearing you and listening to non relevant traffic before recognizing that you are not helping them. If you must chit chat go to 030 (unless it becomes activated for an event) . or the simplex chat frequency.  

 6.  If you like what was done tonight, then join into the SER PLAN and help yourself, your family and your community.

 7.  We had out of the area Hams helping with information. That was fantastic! Thank you!

 Thank you to everyone for the great job you did! This is Community in action, when the action is happening.

 Nathan    K6PDS   73

 P.S.   PG&E called tonight and advised the power shut off would be between 10:00 P.M. and Midnight. Shortly after that call, the power went off at about 9:35 P.M.  Sure am glad they didn’t turn it off during the Fire Net. But, I wonder if they even gave it a thought? (i.e., cutting off power and adversely impacting communications during active wildland fires)

  9/6/2020: Some positive comments by those on Frequency. 

I am sharing some of the positive comments the SER Plan has received. Again, thank you Roy (W6CCR) for the great job he did on September 3, 2020, and all those who were on frequency.

These comments apply to every Ham and Non Ham that are actively participating and helping with the SER Plan. YOU are what makes this happen. Each of you are helping your families, neighborhood, and Shingletown.  Here is what people are saying:

-“Great job, I listened to the reports. Your service provides safety that is unparalleled in this north state – perhaps the whole state. Robert”.

-“Thank to our great network for keeping us informed”, (Jan).

 -“Thank you for keeping us posted.” (Ron).

 -“Wow, Good job.  The SER will eventually gain quite a reputation up here. I'm glad I am part of the SER......” (W6IO).

 -“Great job” (Dawn)

 Thank you.

 Nathan   73

                               Remember:  Having your radio on may save a life. It may be yours.

INCIDENT: 9/3/2020  Cal fire tone out approximately about 1441 hours. Fire reported area of Dersch / 44  just past passing lanes. Cal Fire responding. Village F7 (Village non ham) advised K6PDS of situation.  Dersch /44 area contacted. Since right in that area. First attempts on Area Ch1 follow up via telephone. W6CCR responded, advising going to scene (close to home). 1458 hours W6CCR at scene - reported Fire now out. Here is W6CCR'S Report:

 

"On Thursday September 3rd at 2:46 p.m. I got a call from Nathan K6PDS stating there was a fire near me on Dersch and 44 and asked if I could get eyes on it (my radios were down due to moving them to a new location at the ranch). I got in my truck and was on the scene within a few minutes. Caltrans was sitting eastbound on the shoulder and had his lights on. A young man was on the north side of Hwy 44 with a shovel throwing dirt on some hot spots. I asked if he needed help and he informed me that a couple of men had helped him put out the fire before it got to the heavy brush on the side of the road. Once he found out that I was a HAM he asked if I could make sure that Cal Fire was still in route since the fire was out and he was concerned about hot spots. I reported this on 165 because we had no cell service at the location. He smiled and said “you gotta love HAMs!”. Approximately 5 minutes later a Cal Fire engine was on scene. As I left a Cal Fire employee was taking pictures of the scene and some debris that was on the side of the road.

Thanks again Nathan for the heads up. My radios have since been restored to operating condition.

Roy   W6CCR "

THANK YOU ROY FOR THE GREAT JOB!   Also, thank you to those on frequency.

8/27/2020 - Practice net: All nets competed in 32  minutes, with 5 Divisions, 12 Areas and 39 stations reporting, mapped, summarized and recommendation(s) issued by Net Control.  This included A DRILL report for an area reporting: a total communications failure (no electricity,  no landline telephones, no cell phones, no internet, no ability to call 911, etc) (/F); with water services not working (/J); AND reporting QWA (no suspect smoke fires or embers detected); and with an earthquake of MikeMmike 7 (furniture broken,  cannot stand, chimneys fall - /M7). the Earthquake Drill Report level (/M7)  resulted in activation of a DRILL rapid needs / damage assessment team to conduct damage assessments using Format Uniform (no actual Team deployed to area of Highway 44 and Shasta Forest Drive since this was a drill activation).   After nets, stations (any Ham or any Non Ham) to transmit net control summary and recommendations into all area neighborhoods (on each Neighborhood Ch 1).  Great Job!

8/20/2020 - INFORMATION: SER IS dropping the SATELITE PORTION of the plan.  No satelite stations report in. Instead we will focus on the Shingletown Divsions and the areas who are working with us and following the plan. Of course, we desire  to work with Hams outside the Shingletown Area, so please join in.

PRACTICE NET: [8/20/2020] we had a station which didn't follow the plan and interrupted the 505 Monitor, the 165 Primary and at least one neighborhood net. In addition to not following the plan, the station made childish spitting noises on frequency and was talking during the time any emergency traffic would be calling.  A neighborhood net had stopped its net, because of concern about "emergency traffic" on the primary net (it was the interrupting stations noises).  As a result, the 165 primary net had to be delayed and stopped,  so that the backlog at the neighborhood process could catch up.  Those working the plan are doing multiple tasks at one time. There are reasons why the primary net reporting starts in 9 minutes, the 505 in 5 minutes and the neighborhoods in 6 minutes.  It is sad that we are practicing emergency communications for such matters as wild fires, power outages, relay of emergency medical, potential evacuation warnging, etc...., and have such conduct.

It is really simple, just follow the plan and don't make up stuff. Also, this is not a social net, or talky net. It is an emergency net and our nets are practicing for emergencies. 

Even with the problem, we completed the all nets in 25 minutes, with 4 Divisions, 9 Areas and 31 stations reporting, mapped, summarized and recommendation(s) issued by Net Control.  There was an additional station that attempted to check in (had radio issues) - which would have placed us at 5 Divisions, 10 Areas and 32 station reports. By practicing we learn how to use our radios. Great Job!

  8/18/2020  HERE IS W6CCR'S REPORT FOR THE WILD INCIDENT (8/18/2020):

8/17/2020 Village Net Activation – Lightening Strike Fire

8/17/2020  at about 2333 hours, Village Net activated on Ch 1.  Activation limited to Village Ch 1 based on facts and circumstances.  Activation of larger area on standby. Report of lightening fire in area of Withrow Road and One Hundred Road (121.8945  40.5163). Cal fire responding. Possible spread to vegetation. Subsequently, Beaty Patrol advised single tree on fire, large embers, and concerned about winds. 

 Location: less than 1 mile from Shasta Forest Drive to the North East. Winds in area of Tree hit by lightening – out of the East at approx. 5.7 MPH (per Internet Resource).

 Lead activated on Village Ch 1 (1^st radio for emergency net);  Monitoring 165 (2^nd radio);  Monitoring Cal Fire dispatch 151.160 (Ch 20) (3^rd Radio); and Monitoring Cal Fire Tac 11 (151.445) (4^th radio).  F7 monitoring Cal Fire on 5^th radio. Additionally,  Lead was monitoring Internet Resources including:  Winds (item 9), 2 Cameras,  Fire Mappting (items 3 and 23), lightening tracker (item 11); and physical mapping on Formats ROMEO, ROMEO  9 and Quadrangle for Inwood.

 Village Radio Operators responding / assisting in monitoring Cal Fire: F1, F7 T1, T3, S3, S6, S1, S2. S3 made report from his location – UTL. Thank you!

 As first strike (tree) being extinguished, reports of 2 more strikes potentially in Section 17.  Cal Fire advised of access problems, rough roads.  End result – the two additional reports were determined to be - unable to locate and may have been light from across the valley.  The tree hit by lightening extinguished.

Cal fire responding units available at approx.  Midnight 50 hours.

Village net deactivated Midnight 53 hours.

Thank you to all on frequency and helping out.

Nathan   Village F1,  K6PDS,    73 

PS. We need all stations to report in during these events! Don’t just listen, we need active participation.   Also, all stations need to practice using their radios.

8/14/2020 - Approx. 0922 hours  QWI (Information)  TX on 165 (no formal net activation):  major traffic accident in area of Highway 44/near KOA, East bound lane blocked ... helicopters responding ... medical responding ....recommended persons avoid area ... . 

8/13/2020 Practice Net Results:  8/13/2020 Practice Net Results:  5 Divisions Reported;  10 Area Neighborhoods; 33 station reports; 2 inter-area report relays; all reports mapped, summarized and NCS recommendation; Sitreps were conducted using Fomats Tango 9A and 9M; and All stations performed QWA (fire brevity watch) procedure.  

Total Net Time included:

 Ham Nets (primary 165 repeater net and 505 simplex-monitor net);

PLUS 10 individual neighborhood area nets; and  

ALL of the above reporting COMPLETED AND SUMMARIZED IN 25 minutes.  

AFTER Ham net, any station (Ham or non Ham) to TX Ham Summary and NCS recommendation into their own neighborhood (at that time use Q codes PLUS give the plain english meaning - use the official SER meanings don't make up stuff or change anything.

Great Job Shingletown Radio Operators (HAM AND NON HAMS). 

Remember: when attempting to contact another area, call them on THEIR CH 1. (SEE FMT YANKEE 5A FOR FREQUENCY LISTINGS BY AREA). After contact, go back to your neighborhood Ch1, or hold the "Scan" button on the uv5r for the Scan Plan (which means you are scanning your neighborhood Ch 1, Ch3 Plus the Ham Freq. 760, 165 and 505.

ALSO, FIRES DON'T HAVE A SCHEDULE. SO IF YOUR RADIO IS NOT ON, THEN WHAT IS YOUR PLAN?  SOMEONE (HOPEFULLY MULTIPLE STATIONS)  IN EACH NEIGHBORHOOD MUST BE SCANNING THE HAM FREQUENCIES TO BE NOTIFIED OF HAM ACTIVATIONS).

8/10/2020:  Oakrun Satelite contacted Shingletown on 760 rpter., advising of Fire in Manton area - near Wildcat and Manton Road.  This was approx 6 1/2 miles SW Wilson Hill SER Lookout.  Thank you Oakrun!   K6PDS requested Village B1 to provide update and Village B1 subsequently reported  "forward spread stopped". A QWI Information report was TX on 760 by K6PDS (NO formal Fire Net Activated).  Subsequently, KK6SWE went to Wilson Hill Lookout - UTL. Also, K6PDS subsequently went to Wilson Hill Look and Wilson Hill Short Lookout  (which had view towards azimuth where fire reported)  - UTL.  Illustrates mutual communication capability between Village Neighborhood stations resources  (Village Ch1), SER Ham Scan Freq. 760, and Oakrun primary frequency 146.475.

8/09/2020: Whitmore Fire - approximately 1720 hours Village B2 inquired about fire in Whitmore area. Village B1 advised  on Village Ch 1 of 15 acre fire near Fern and Whitmore Rd off of Notta.  Spring IC.  View of AirRadar showed Lat Long of Aircraft circling fire area to be approximately  -121.9512    40.6328 (West of Large Power Lines which run north / south along ridge). Cal Fire Camera (HighlineTrail) - smoke visible.  Shingletown contacted OakRun on Oakrun Primary 146.475 to confirm Oakrun aware of incident. Oakrun aware and monitoring. SER net not activated. Village Area Coordinator Monitoring. 1750 hours Springs IC reported forward progress stopped; 1821 hours air attack returning to Redding loaded. Great job to Village B1 (Doug) and B2 (Ron) for providing the information on Village Ch1. 

After - Action Comment: in future, similar situation recommend QWI on Scan Plan - but not necessarily a formal activation (informational). Advise stations to monitor Cal Fire and report  / activate if necessary.

8/6/2020 Practice Net Results:  6 Divisions Reported;  10 Area Neighborhoods; 37 station reports; 2 inter-area report relays; all reports mapped, summarized and NCS recommendation; Sitreps were conducted using Fomats Tango 9A and 9M; and All stations performed QWA (fire brevity watch) procedure.  

Total Net Time for Ham Nets (primary 165 repeater net and 505 simplex-monitor net);

PLUS 10 individual neighborhood area nets; and  

ALL of the above COMPLETED AND SUMMARIZED IN 26 minutes.  

Great Job Shingletown Radio Operators. 

7/30/2020 SER Practice Nets:

  SER - FIRE NET ACTIVATED 7/12/2020

 0918 HOURS SER FIRE NET TONED AND ACTIVATED BY K6PDS ON 165 ONLY.

(Further activations pending situation progress.  Full activation would be for very serious situation. 165 is part of the SCAN PLAN).

Approx 0918 hours, Cal Fire reported 2 to 3 acre fire in grass, moderate rate of spread, 1 (one) structure involved.  Reported location 30485 Battle Creek Bottom Road.

Net Control used Internet map to determine  location and lat and long [Map Viewer:  https://maps.co.shasta.ca.us/ShastaCountyMap/.  

Net Control used Lat and Long to post to Format Romeo 9A. (see photo of mapping here).  

Net Control estimated Fire to be approximately 3 miles  SW  of Wilson Lookout, bearing  218 True; and approximately 4 miles South of Village.

Net Control Estimated wind speed at location of fire – 6 MPH (corrected) determine from this link   [ https://www.windy.com/?40.502,-121.807,9  ].  See Format Romeo 9A, above, for presentation on map.

Periodic brief reports made by Net Control  on 165 based on Cal Fire radio monitoring. Example: forward progress stopped, copter cancelled… .  During event, assets being cancelled by  Cal Fire.  At 1022 Cal Fire advised remaining resources will be committed 1 hour. Net Control recommendation  -  deactivate Fire Net, no station had contrary recommendation, and monitoring station agreed.

 Fire Net deactivated at 1024 hours.

 Thank you to all on frequency, which included:   K6PDS, KE6DHO, W6IO, AJ6KJ, KQ6CS and another station  which  Net Control did not copy call sign. Telephone contact with KK6SWE.

 ADDITIONAL NEW RESOURCE – thank you Larry:

Cal Fire Camera – viewing South of Wilson Hill.

Thank you Larry  - KK6SWE for providing information about this camera).

http://www.alertwildfire.org/shastamodoc/index.html?camera=Axis-Shingletown&v=81e003f

 WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP OUT – FOR ALL APSECTS, NET CONTROL, MAPPING, TRIANGULATION ETC… .  Any station needs to be able to step in and help out and follow the PLAN.  If those presently running the Nets are not available, we need others to be able to step up.  K6PDS  - 73  

Practice Net July 9, 2020 - RESULTS.  Another Great Job!

Sitrep (Tango 9A / Tango 9M) conducted along with QWA procedure; PLUS drill smoke column Triangulation.  

Ham and Individual Neighborhood nets conducted Situation Reports (all areas which reported into nets: had electricity, had ability to call 911, had internet, no earthquake activity, no need for inter-area welfare checks,  etc...; and 

all areas reporting into nets had conducted Brevity Fire Watch procedure and reported no suspect smoke, fire or embers; PLUS  

DRILL triangulation on smoke column with Drill report to Cal Fire. Drill smoke reporting stations used combination of Highway 44 mileage marker; while the other station "wasn't sure of where he was on 44 - advising was  "near Viola", but had phone GPS Lat / Long.  Both sources used to triangulate on Map Format Romeo 9A and estimate Smoke Column Location. Drill call placed to Cal Fire.

5 Divisions, 11 Neighborhood Areas reported; plus 2 drill smoke column reports and total of 30 station reports (including call to specific Neighborhood Area Frequency). Total net time 35 minutes.  After nets, TX  Ham Net Summary (Format Kilo) into neighborhood nets by Hams AND/OR non hams. When TX to neighborhoods, Q Codes AND PLAIN ENGLISH USED. Nets routinely cover all of Shingletown (and over 140 square miles).  A very efficient and rapid procedure to find out what is actually happening during fire season. PLUS, in this drill we also triangulated and reported a Drill smoke column location. Thank you to all you actively participated. 

  Practice Net July 9, 2020 - Agenda:

Practice Net will involve  Sitrep (Tango 9A / Tango 9M) and all stations conduct "QWA Procedure"  (when announcing agenda, including neighborhoods, use the SER terms, please don't change or make stuff up).

 

PLUS WE WILL TRIANGULATE ON A DRILL SMOKE COLUMN.  ONE STATION WILL REPORT ITS LOCATION USING MILEAGE MARKER ON HIGHWAY 44  AND THE SECOND STATION WILL USE GPS (LAT / LONG) TO REPORT ITS LOCATION.   The smoke column drill script is here:
FMT-KIL0-22-SER-DRILL-smoke colum-Ver2020.07.09.pdf Drill Script - Smoke Column / Triangulation - with one station reporting using GPS - Lat / Long as reporting location.  PLEASE USE DECIMAL DEGREES UNDER THIS PROCEDURE.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL AREAS USE THE STANDARD SER PROCEDURES. PLEASE DON'T MAKE STUFF OR CHANGE THINGS BECAUSE SOMEONE THINKS IT IS "COOL" OR "BETTER". Why? BECAUSE THEN OTHERS WILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WE WILL NOT HAVE A COHESIVE SYSTEM. YOU NEIGHBORS MAY HAVE TO RUN THE NETS IF OTHERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE - SO WE MUST FOLLOW THE PLAN. OUR SER NETS (AND ACTUAL EVENTS) SHOW THAT THE SYSTEM WORKS.

We should put our energies into working the plan as written and designed. 

Thank you.

 

Nathan   73  k6pds

Missing 11 Year Old Boy found safe - July 3 2020:  Thanks to KF6JAQ for the great job in advising of the active search (Sheriff, CHP, Cal Fire) for an 11 year old boy in Shingletown  (in a remote area) .  The Sheriff's Office was contacted and a complete and accurate description of the boy was obtained. Such information was then sent out over  the 760 and 165 repeaters for station operators to be on the look out.  Several operators were on frequency (24/7 monitoring, which is what the SER program is about). Thank you KK6SWE, KF6FAQ, AJ6KJ, K6PDS, W6IO, KQ6CS,  W6MWM*, and others).  Radio Operator (K6PDS) was loading up his 50 watt radio Go Box, and necessary outdoor equipment, water, supplies, maps, etc...,  to report to the search area when news was received that the boy was found, and was safe.  Learning points from this event for those who desire to assist in these type of activities:  1.  have your 50 Watt Radio Go Box and field equipment ready; 2. If  you  (or anyone) receives an alert about an event from your phone,  text, etc..., please TX over the SER plan (actual facts only). This Lost Person Report was sent out by public officials only to certain areas (not all of Shingletown) - so you can't assume everyone received notice (thank you AJ6KJ for this comment); 3.  Other radio operators outside your specific area / neighborhood may be able to assist; 4.  Base stations (with good outside antennas) should be at the ready  24/7 (with back up power supply - battery, generator, etc...) to act as Net Controls for field operations (including Simplex operation) even during complete communication failures and power outages.  This type of situation may also present itself as to wild fires. This may involve field radio station operators reporting actual observations concerning a local fire from lookout locations and/or ember patrols.  Stations should have the Format Romeo 9A Map at the ready.

Form - Fire Ember Observation Report is Here (for those who desire to assist): http://www.shastadefense.com/A-FmtTANGO6-FireEmberObservationReport20190910.pdf

     *7/4/2020 - ADDED W6MWM AS ANOTHER STATION ON FREQ. THANK YOU.

RESULTS (condensed) of SER Practice Net on July 2, 2020 : 

Great Job! Ham and Individual Neighborhood nets conducted Situation Reports (all areas which reported into nets: had electricity, had ability to call 911, had internet, no earthquake activity, no need for inter-area welfare checks,  etc...; and all areas reporting into nets had conducted Brevity Fire Watch procedure and reported no suspect smoke, fire or embers  Total net time 24 minutes. Nets routinely cover all of Shingletown (and over 140 square miles).  A very efficient and rapid procedure to find out what is actually happening during fire season. 

AND  - When all communications have failed - what other system do you have to find out what is going on in your neighborhood, and other nearby neighborhoods (e.g., that forest fire 5 miles away)? 

Reminders:  System only works if people have their radios on and help out. 

                     Outside antennas are needed for best propagation.

                     We must all test our systems with the weekly drills.

                     If  you are able, upgrade to Alinco Radio. Boefang has reliability issues. 

                     Each Area / Neighborhood should have its own Area Map with streets and radio station

                                     operator locations marked.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!  

CELEBRATE THE FOURTH OF JULY, AND

 THE EXCEPTIONALISM THAT IS THE USA!

  7/1/2020 Update - Shingletown Murder suspect dead after auto accident in Southern California. 

Thank you W6IO for announcing this update on the SER Scan Plan and the Village Ch1.  https://krcrtv.com/news/local/shingletown-murder-suspect-dead-after-crash-in-southern-california

  ALERT  ALERT - 6/27/2020 -SUSPECT IN SHINGLETOWN DOUBLE HOMICIDE IDENTIFIED.   BE ON LOOK OUT. CALL 911. DO NOT ENGAGE - CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS - MORE HERE

  ALERT 6/27/2020 - REPORTS  MADE ON 760  AND 165 AS TO SHOOTINGS NEAR DERSCH / 44.  DERSCH CLOSED (ROAD BLOCK) NEAR DERSCH / 44.   STAY AWAY FROM AREA FOR SAFETY.  AT 1820 CHP WAS REMOVING ROAD BLOCK AND TX WAS MADE ON FREQUENCIES AS TO SUCH STATUS.  

THANK YOU W6CCR, WHO WAS IN THE AREA OF THE SHOOTING AND MADE A QST ON 165 SHORTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT - THEREBY ALLOWING PERSONS TO KNOW ABOUT THE DANGEROUS AREA AND TO STAY AWAY FOR THEIR SAFETY. THIS WAS MOST LIKELY THE VERY FIRST PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION (I.E., BEFORE ANY NEWS BROADCAST, INTERNET POSTING, ETC...). GREAT JOB W6CCR AND ALL THOSE ON FREQUENCY AND MONITORING.  WHEN DRIVING, RADIO OPERATORS ARE VITAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR FIRES, EMERGENCY SITUATIONS,  STATUS OF ROAD CLOSURES, ETC... . 

RESULTS of Practice Net on June 25, 2020:   5 Divisions and 9 Areas Reported  (Fisher, Village,  Circle K, Rest Area, Wilson Hill South,  Bible Belt, Ash Creek Dersch,  Dersch 44, Starlite).   27 Station Reports (Tango 9A, Tango 9M; and QWA procedure). Net Stations assisting included:   Hams, Neighborhoods nets (hams and non hams); Ham NCS; Ham  505 MONITOR; Ham Mapping 1 and Ham Mapping 2 (mapping Fmt Tango 9a and QWA reports on Fmt Romeo 8); and Triangulation 1 (mapping QWA reports on Fmt Romeo 9A -Township, Range and Section Map - no suspect smoke, fire or embers); Ham Cal Fire Monitor, 160 TC, and Alpha Control. Total Net Time  24 Minutes (approx 150 square miles covered).  Summary Mapping, information and NCS recommendation relayed by Hams or ANY STATION (E.G., NON HAM)  into Areas / Neighborhoods (i.e., their Area Ch 1)  immediately after close of Ham SER Net.

 Please ask other Areas / Neighborhoods to join in. Early detection of Fire, helps Cal Fire and all of the Shingletown Area.  

  6/18/2020  1900 Hours: Ham Net (on Prim Repeater and 505 Simplex) coordinated with Individual Neighborhood nets (each on their own frequency). All stations conducted Situation Reports and Brevity Fire Watches (to determine no suspect smoke, fire or embers). Nets routinely cover over 140+ square miles. All Nets tonight were  completed in approximately 23 minutes.  

6/15/2020  1900 Hours on 760 repeater: Radio On Air class - was done.  HAMS AND NON HAMS WERE ASKED TO  LISTEN TO TRAINING ON NEIGHBORHOOD SMOKE TRIANGULATION OVERVIEW:

IT WAS REQUESTED THAT ALL RADIO TEAMS JOIN IN.      FIRE SEASON IS HERE.

K6PDS gave a brief 10 minute training class on  760 covering:  Sample report intake form; sample posting of reports to neighborhood map; Identification  by way of triangulation of potential source location of smoke; critical importance of stations not smelling smoke to provide report; supplemental call would be made to Cal Fire with results; delivery of mapping results to Cal Fire Engine responding to neighborhood..

 SIMILAR PROCEDURES ARE USED FOR THE HAM NET.

All Neighborhoods were asked to have their Area/Neighborhoods maps ready. They can be used for smoke checks, welfare checks, evacuation assistance, and other uses.

Sample Area Map is shown (for Village)  Training Example 001 - Village Mapping. Smoke Check Format Tango 4M

Report Format Neighborhoods - http://www.shastadefense.com/A-FmtTANGO4M-SER-NeighorhdSmokeCheckAbreviatedRpt20200613.pdf

 

  June 14, 2020 – Village Smoke Check Net Activated (Shingletown Emergency Radio):

Cal Fire Radio reported a large blanket of smoke in the Village.  Village Ch 1 Smoke Check was activated.

Within about 7 minutes (or less) the Village Radio Team  had 9 Station reports from stations located at various locations throughout the Village, AND  ALL STATION REPORTS WERE MAPPED ON FORMAT ROMEO 21 - VILLAGE. With the Lead Station conducting the Net, that was 10 Radio Stations participating on Frequency.

It is fair to say that the Village Radio Team had completed mapping and had a situation analysis completed before Cal Fire had arrived at the Village  [read more]

  6/13/2020 - 1400 hours: Village (F1) conducted brief 12 minute training class on Village channel 1 covering:  Sample report intake form; sample posting of reports to neighborhood map; Identification  by way of triangulation of potential source location of smoke; critical importance of stations not smelling smoke to provide report; supplemental call would be made to Cal Fire with results; delivery of mapping results to Cal Fire Engine responding to neighborhood.. [8 Village Stations checked into Radio Class on Village 1].  Training Example 001 - Village Mapping. Smoke Check Format Tango 4M

Triangulation Mapping Tools - Plotting Triangle (e.g., locating source of smoke from forest fire).

Weems & Plath 101 Protractor Triangle with Handle ( I purchased a set on E-bay).

https://mdnautical.com/plotting-tools/1574-weems-plath-101-protractor-triangle-with-handle.html

Video on use:

It can be used on the Ham Net AND your Area / Neighborhood Net maps to triangulate on sources of forest fire smoke.

  Cal Fire - and the SER Plan: Yesterday (6/7/2020), I had discussions with Cal Fire regarding the SER program. I was advised by the Cal Fire Captain, Shingletown, that they like what we are doing. The Captain said that the SER program provides situational awareness for participants during events and is beneficial to the community.  We also discussed our Smoke Triangulation procedures (Tango 4) which seeks to locate the source of smoke (e.g., at night, etc.... The Captain said that if the location of the fire is not known, they too have to smell the air and many times have to get out of the truck for such purposes while searching areas. The value of the SER procedure was clearly recognized when the Captain advised that he would like to have a neighborhood team member provide the results of the smoke mapping when they arrive in a neighborhood (e.g., the Village). This way they can use the mapping results to aid them in locating a fire.

June 8, 2020  (Monday) at 1900 Hours:  Practice  Live Radio Class  on 760 (non hams Ch 10). Both Hams and Non Hams should listen. The following exercises will be conducted:

1.  Area Coordinator’s TX of Situation Reports, EQ and QWA reports (Format Tango 9a) (different area reports illustrated).

2.  Mapping station summary of mapping (Romeo 8) (all stations to record on Format Kilo).

3.  Illustration of how Non Hams and Hams transmit the format Kilo summary into their area / neighborhood nets after the Ham Net (purpose is to make sure areas receive summary report information – any station is to do this on their Area Ch 1).

  6/5/2020  Comment:  Neighborhood nets are to start taking reports at the 6 minute mark.  The Ham Net is to start taking reports at the 9 minute mark.  Why? Because there is coordination of the Neighborhood Nets and the Ham Nets. Further, those behind the scene are running the nets and doing work.  NCS and Leads are to use a timer and do an actual count down - eg., "...reports in 5 minutes.  reports in 4 minutes, reports in 3 minutes, etc...  This avoids dead air. 

This is an emergency net.  Please do not welcome guests, etc..., as it distracts other stations while they are setting up (e.g., 505 relay net, 505 monitor,  Mapping 1,  Mapping 2,  Triangulation 1, etc... ).  We must all follow the scripts. Nets are to be conducted as we would during an emergency.  

If people in your neighborhood and other neighborhoods are not helping out by giving reports then they are not helping the rest of the community (including you and your family) in determining the location of a fire, status of stations not being able to call 911, downed power lines that can cause a fire (remember the Paradise fire, etc...), or helping to relay your families emergency need to relay a call to 911, etc... . If  your neighbors are not actually transmitting and reporting during our Practice Nets (unless elderly / with disabilities, etc...),  because they are "too busy" to spend 15 minutes a week for their neighborhood, then you must assume that they will not be there to help you.  Talk is cheap.  We need to work with those who are participating and helping out.  If no one in your neighborhood is helping, then you should work to be able to relay to another area. 

  6/4/2020  Practice Net SET FOR  JUNE 4, 2020 -  Agenda: 

  RESULTS of Practice Net on May 28, 2020:   6 Divisions; 2 smoke column reports (drill); and 9 Areas Reported  (Village, Inwood, Circle K,  Wilson Hill South, Battle Creek, Bible Belt, Ash Creek Dersch, Dersch 44, Starlite).   39 total Station Reports processed and mapped (Tango 9A,  Tango 4, and drill smoke columns).  

Operations included: Situation reports Fmt Tango 9a / 9m (all stations);  QWA procedure - Brevity Fire Watch (all stations); Smoke Check - Tango 4 (some stations). PLUS: Drill Smoke Columns reported from Millville Plains/44 lookout (mileage marker 10.77), and Rock Creek/44 (mileage marker 40.60).

The drill Smoke Column Reports were mapped / Triangulated on Format Tango 9A and the estimated location of Drill Fire was determined to be at   T30N   R2E   S29 (Digger Butte Area).  Such is about 6-1/4 miles south of  the Starlite Area; about 5-1/2 miles South East of  the Wilson Hill South Area; and 5 miles SSE of the Rest Area Neighborhoods.   A Drill call was made to Cal Fire while Net Control concurrently requested that all stations transmit the estimated location of the Drill fire into their participating Area / Neighborhood Nets. The Ham net was on standby for this to take place.  If a neighborhood wasn't participating, then they would not be aware of the fire (drill in this case). 

Winds were reported by Tango 4 reports as none. Winds are very important. A point for consideration is that during the Camp fire it was reported  that the fire was growing, during its first burning period, at “one football field per second. A clear illustration of the need for early detection.

A SPECIAL THANKS goes out to all participating Area and Neighborhoods (hams and non hams).  We are making very positive progress!

Net Stations assisting included:   Hams, Neighborhoods nets (hams and non hams); Ham NCS; Ham 505 MONITOR; Ham Mapping 1, Ham Mapping 2 (mapping Fmt Tango 9a) and Triangulation 1 (mapping Fmt Tango 4 and fire / smoke aspects from Fmt Tango 9a); Ham Cal Fire Monitor, 160 TC, and Alpha Control. All coordinated with a Total Net Time  36 Minutes.  

Net Control (and 505 monitor) requested that the Summary of  Mapping, Summary report, NC recommendation, Triangulation report, and Drill Fire information be relayed by all stations into their Areas / Neighborhoods immediately after close of Ham SER Net.  

How large of an area was covered in 36 minutes?   Taking into account the Drill reporting from the Millville Plains Lookout, and Rock Creek / 44 report,  the exercise covered over 300 square miles of area.

Here is a photo of the Format Tango 9A mapping summary prepared by Triangulation 1. 

Great job to all those who are helping out.  Each individual report (Ham or Non Ham) is essential. The System allows all of your individual reports to be summarized, relayed, mapped, and reviewed in a very short period of time. That is why following the system is critical.

Not all Shingletown  Areas / Neighborhoods are participating.  Some are only dealing with their immediate neighbors while others are doing nothing at all.  Coordination of all neighborhoods is needed to avoid a "flames are at the back door" situation. 

Please ask other Areas / Neighborhoods to join in. Early detection of Fire, helps Cal Fire and all of the Shingletown Area.  

5/28/2020 Practice Net SET FOR May 28, 2020 -  Agenda: 

    * ALL STATIONS (HAM AND NON HAM) - Sitrep (Tango 9a / 9m); and  QWA procedure - Brevity Fire Watch;  AND 

    * FOR HAMS AND THOSE WANTING TO HELP OUT MORE:  Smoke Check Format Tango 4.   

    * PLUS: WE ARE GOING TO INCLUDE A - DRILL SMOKE COLUMN  / TRIANGULATION EXERCISE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKING TO DETERMINE THE LOCATION OF A DRILL FIRE SOURCE (SEE SCRIPT). 

TRIANGULATION IS TO BE DONE ON FORMAT TANGO 9A (MAP FILE IS AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE DESIRING IT.  PRINTING CAN BE DONE AT ELLIS IN REDDING FOR ABOUT $14.00).

 Radio Station Operators include: Neighborhood Nets HAMS AND ON HAMS; Hams; Area Coordinators;  Ham Mapping Stations 1 and 2; Ham Triangulation Station; Ham NCS; Ham Cal Fire Monitor; Ham 160 Tango Charlie;  Ham Alpha Control.  AND HAM 505 Monitor.

 For this to work, all neighborhoods and Hams need to participate. Please help out.

 IF YOU KNOW OF AN AREA THAT IS NOT HELPING OUT, PLEASE ASK THEM TO JOIN IN.  NONE OF US ARE IMMUNE FROM A SHINGLETOWN  FIRE!

 Please monitor frequencies 24/7 - early detection means cal fire can respond sooner. Remember, if you see a fire or smell suspect smoke - call 911.  THANKS. NATHAN    73     K6PDS

  5/23/2020: PG&E is installing (May, 2020) a site at Reeds in Shingletown. In the event of a Public Safety Power Shutoff event, a mobile generator will be transported to the site to provide electricity to about 80 PG&E customers... in the event of other Power Outages, a mobile generator is to likewise be transported to the site to provide electricity (per  owner of Reeds). ... . It is important to note that during these power outage events (planed or otherwise), the generator must be transported to the site at Reeds ...READ MORE HERE

Village Ch 1 Activation:  5/22/2020, Cal Fire call out for flu fire / residential structure fire at 30542 Figaro Dr.   Village Ch 1 Activated. Foxtrot 7 provided report from scene.   Cal Fire arrived on scene.  As of 1905 hours (approx) Fire out per homeowner, Cal Fire investigating and cancelled response.  We had several Village Stations that were on frequency.  Great Job Village stations.   73

  RESULTS of Practice Net on May 21, 2020:   6 Divisions and 10 Areas Reported  (Village, Inwood, Circle K, Rest Area, Wilson Hill South, Battle Creek, Bible Belt, Ash Creek Dersch, Dersch 44, Starlite).   39 Station Reports (Tango 9A,  and Tango 4).  Operations included: Situation reports Fmt Tango 9a / 9m (all stations);  QWA procedure - Brevity Fire Watch (all stations); Smoke Check - Tango 4 (some stations); Drill Fire reported by Cal Fire Monitor (PG E lake area) – later reported as “contained – drill”. Net Stations assisting included:   Hams, Neighborhoods nets (hams and non hams); Ham NCS; Ham 505 MONITOR; Ham Mapping 1, Ham Mapping 2 (mapping Fmt Tango 9a) and Triangulation 1 (mapping Fmt Tango 4 and fire / smoke aspects from Fmt Tango 9a); Ham Cal Fire Monitor, 160 TC, and Alpha Control. Total Net Time  31 Minutes.  Summary Mapping, Summary Triangulation, and Drill Fire information relayed by Hams into Areas / Neighborhoods immediately after close of Ham SER Net.

 Please ask other Areas / Neighborhoods to join in. Early detection of Fire, helps Cal Fire and all of the Shingletown Area.

  Why the SER Plan  and YOU are essential: Reflect on the fact that you, as part of the SER Net Plan, are helping in the immediate and rapid reporting and review of  critical factual information and reports over a large geographic area (in excess of  140 + square miles; and with location lookouts being used - in excess of 600 square miles).  "Buried amongst the trees", this information is simply not available to you, me , or  other individual residents.  This SER Plan reporting is all done in a very short period of time  (approximately 30 minutes).  In addition to providing vital information to residents, this information can be provided to emergency services. I submit that such information is not otherwise available to Cal Fire or the Sheriiff  in the event of a large geographic event as it unfolds. For example, summary of earthquake damage reports immediately following an earthquake; what areas have the ability to dial 911, and who can't?; and  reporting of a fire when there is a total communication failure of cell phones, land lines, reverse 911,  internet, etc...).  Such information can be vital to limited resource allocations.  Please ask others to help out. Community participation (i.e., reporting and communicating) is essential for successful implementation. All residents need to do is report in - The SER plan is designed to process your information.

  Practice Net SET FOR May 21, 2020 - Agenda:  Sitrep (Tango 9a / 9m);  QWA procedure - Brevity Fire Watch; and Smoke Check Format Tango 4.  Radio Station Operators include: Neighborhood Nets; Hams; Area Coordinators;  Ham Mapping Stations 1 and 2; Ham Triangulation Station; Ham NCS; Ham Cal Fire Monitor; Ham 160 Tango Charlie;  Ham Alpha Control. 505 Relay Net - suspended. For this to work, all neighborhoods and Hams need to participate. Please help out.

RESULTS  FOR VILLAGE CH 1 PROPAGATION TEST ON MAY 18, 2020 (SEE FMT ROMEO 24 - VILLAGE)       

KEY SUMMARY POINTS - AREA (VILLAGE) CH 1 (MURS):

-AVERAGE READABILITY FOR OUTSIDE ANTENNA STATIONS TO HEAR OTHER OUTSIDE ANTENNA STATIONS = 4.63  GOOD

-AVERAGE READABILITY FOR INSIDE ANTENNA (RUBBER DUCKY) STATIONS TO HEAR OUTSIDE ANTENNA STATIONS = 3.8 NOT ACCEPTABLE

-AVERAGE READABILITY FOR OUTSIDE ANTENNA STATIONS TO HEAR INSIDE ANTENNA STATIONS (RUBBER DUCKY) = 3.3 (NOT ACCEPTABLE)

-AVERAGE READABILITY FOR INSIDE ANTENNA STATIONS (RUBBER DUCKY) TO HEAR OTHER INSIDE ANTENNA STATIONS (RUBBER DUCKY) = 2.6  (FAILURE)

CRITERIA - READABILITY: X = Nothing heard 5= Q5 Perfectly Readable 4= Q4 Readable with practically no difficulty 3= Q3 Readable with considerable difficulty 2= Q2 Barely Readable, occasional words distinguishable 1= Q1 Unreadable

  Village CH1  Propagation Testing SET FOR MAY  18, 2020 AT 1900 HOURS. Preparing for wildfire season.

RESULTS of Practice Net on May 14, 2020: 4 Divsions and 8 Areas Reported  (Village, Inwood, Circle K, Rest Area, Wilson Hill, Battle Creek, Bible Belt, Emigrant). 40 Station Reports.  Operations included: Situation reports Fmt Tango 9a / 9m (all stations);  QWA procedure - Brevity Fire Watch (all stations); Smoke Check - Tango 4 (some stations); Triangulation Mapping of 2 reports of DRILL smoke columns with Drill call to Cal Fire Reporting estimated location of Drill Smoke Column (providing Township, Range and Section of smoke);  Inter-Area relay of Neighborhood reports; 505 Relay Net. Stations assisting included:   Hams, Neighborhoods nets (hams and non hams); Ham NCS; Ham Relay Control; Ham Mapping 1 (mapping Fmt Tango 9a) and Triangulation 1 (mapping Fmt Tango 4 and fire / smoke aspects from Fmt Tango 9a); Ham Cal Fire Monitor. Total Net Time  36 Minutes.

  Comment: Neighorhoods need to relay reports into the Ham Net. If neighborhoods only keep information to themselves then there is no overall sharing of information. Logic tells us that if no one is sharing information then by definition we will not receive reports of smoke, fire or other emergencies from other areas. (5/17/2020).

  Comment: We need more stations to help out and be able to run net operations (Neighborhoods and Ham) when others are absent.  Hams and Non Hams need to step up and help run nets so that anyone can run the nets during emergencies. "let Joe do it" doesn't work when Joe is out of town. So we all need to become proactive and  step up to the plate. (5/17/2020).

  Comment: 505 Relay Net (suspended - lack of use):  This has been developed and the procedure works well. Thank you to KK6DOO, AJ6KJ AND K6PDS FOR RUNNING THIS BACK UP RELAY NET during primary net operations.  The 505 Relay Net was set up for when repeaters fail and simplex operations will be needed with relays (which should be practiced). Also, some stations may not be able to reach the repeater being used for the Primary Net.  However,  there has been a lack of support / use by other Hams for the 505 relay net and those who are presently running the nets can only do so much. At this time, we are working to do Triangulation for locating sources of smoke  (and that is a position requiring a station to only perform that task).  Relay Control attempted to also perform the  Triangulation  function. Such is not a workable situation.  Accordingly, the 505 Relay Net  is suspended. We need more people who are willing to help out. (5/16/2020)

  Village Safety Drill Results

    Village Safety Drill - Evacuation ALERTING exercise for Wildfire Risk (Drill only - no actual evacuation) 3-14-2020

  SER ACTIVE FIRE NET ACTIVATION 11-12-2019 SER ACTIVE FIRE NET ACTIVATION 11-12-2019       Shingletown Fire

  SER STATUS REPORT 20190829: Sitrep and Brevity Fire Watch Reports (no suspect fires / smoke); plus Drill House Fire Relay to 911; 33 Station reports (neighborhood Areas and Ham) transmitted / relayed, mapped and plain english summary by Division provided. Net completed in 20 minutes. 

  SER STATUS REPORT 20190822 Sitrept, Brevity Fire Watch - Net completed in 16 minutes . 24 reports mapped.

  SER ACTIVE FIRE NET ACTIVATION 8-14-2019       Shingletown Fire 

  SER STATUS REPORT 20190815  Sitrept, Brevity Fire Watch, Drill Emergency Traffic, NCS radio failure during net.

  SER STATUS REPORT 20190808 Earthquake Drill Communications Blackout.

SER STATUS REPORT 20190801