The emer­gency com­mu­ni­ca­tions pro­vid­ed by radio ama­teurs in Cal­i­for­nia that burnt 1,400 homes and killed at least six peo­ple, has helped author­i­ties in their response to a disaster.
The fire­fight­ers in bat­tling wild fires, the worst ever in the most pop­u­lous US state and declared a nation­al dis­as­ter, were been joined by those from Aus­tralia and New Zealand.
The Ama­teur Radio Emer­gency Ser­vice (ARES) and Radio Ama­teur Civ­il Emer­gency Ser­vice (RACES) trained mem­bers have worked along­side aid groups in Cal­i­for­nia, to pro­vide vital links to shel­ters hous­ing evac­u­at­ed residents.
‑Jim Lin­ton VK3PC, Chair­man IARU Region 3 Dis­as­ter Com­mu­ni­ca­tions Committee