running dogg wrote:

Señor Sombra wrote:

You won't laugh when the fire comes roaring down the hill and totally
destroys your home, all your belongings, your pets, and possibly you. Want
to see what it looked like --- URL:
http://www.karlgrobl.com/Photojournalism/Fire/page1.htm

http://www.scrippsranch.org/special/fire_gallery.asp

In California more than 743,000 acres burned by Monday 11/03/03, these
hellish fires caused 24 deaths & destroyed more than 3,570 homes. Read that
again --- 3,570 homes and 24 deaths.

I had friends die in that fire.

Hundreds were evacuated as the smoke was so bad breathing was difficult all
over the county.

The hospitals were loaded with COPD patients.
The smoke also carries metallic particles-- many suffered long after the
fires.

The football stadium and red cross shelters was filled with fire refugees.
Amateurs brought food and water to those areas.

Livestock was roasted in their tracks some were rescued by Amateurs.

One couple took the wrong turn and died. Amateur Radio could have told them
the right escape route.
Their cellphones were out, the telephone lines were toasted.

Amateurs were a valuable asset heralded by civil authorities and the press.

RACES and ARES was out in full force, a Repeater information net served
hundreds who needed information on road closures,
evacuations, shelters, health and welfare and much more.

We are proud to have served.
Hope you are as well prepared as you are stupid.


Any number of other radio services could have "told them the right
escape route". Back when I was a little kid, in the 1970s, every car
carried an emergency CB radio.

Where did you live? Hazzard County?

dxAce
Michigan
UA