Paradise, CA

Here's a picture take this morning, 6/24/08 of the sun rising. It was taken at 8am and looking east in Pleasant, CA...

Well, my stint providing internet access at a Local Assistance Center for Butte County is coming to an end. The fire situation isn't getting any better though. The state has named 10 fires their priority and the protection of life and property is the priority. Most of the 30 some odd fires are just going to burn for a while and as the BLM does in Nevada, manage the fire. Well, the fires around Paradise and Chico are the priority. The inversion layer is starting to lift and now aircraft are starting to fly water drops to these fires. But that means that the wind is starting to pick up and that means the fires will just spread faster.

Fire Support

As you all know, California is having, I think, the begginnings of the worst fire season. Right now (6-24-08), there are about 30 fire events going on in California. 90% of those are in Northern California! Last week, the Humbolt Fire was finally contained. The Humbolt Fire took place between the City of Chico and Pleasant Valley, CA. After the fire is out, recovery can begin and today I am in Oroville, CA at a recovery center where residents affected by the fire can come and fill out paper work to get their lives back in order. Tommorrow, I will be at Pleasant Valley to do the same thing. My job is to provide phones and internet connection to the various local, county and state agencies that help fire victims get back on their feet. So, I bring up the State OES OASIS satellite trailer that will provide the phones and internet for folks.

Here in Oroville, things are pretty slow. The OASIS trailer has been here since Sunday and I will be at the other site Wednesday and Thursday. The folks in charge of the recovery center think that there will be more folks since Paradise Valley was part of the fire. I don't know why they set up in Oroville, but thats for the politicos to hash out!

I'll post more later with some pictures too.

TTFN!

CA OES OASIS

Every once in a while I get asked what do I do when I volunteer my time with the California OES. Well, this is one thing that I do. It's called OASIS or the Operational Area Satellite Information System. Basically it's a portable telephone with a really big antenna and on wheels. During forest fires or other emergencies, like the Southern California Wild Fires from last October, the OES will send this out so that the incident command post has telephone and internet access. The system has 24 phone lines and has internet capabilities. Unfortunately, the internet speed will slow down when their are more users accessing the internet.

For the most part, the volunteers for the CA OES wait for the official start of fire season. I bet you didn't know that California had a fire season. Yep, it pretty much takes the place of the end of fall and most of winter. So in California, those two 'natural seasons' are replaced with fire season. So we spend the 'off season' doing show and tells and fixing things on the OASIS trailers.

When fire season does start and we are called out to provide communications, we get to see some really nice country..

Get to know the 'neighbors'...

But the sleeping accommodations are a little to be desired...

But all fun aside, it's something that I enjoy doing even if I don't get paid for doing it. If you every find that you want something else to do, volunteer and help your community. I suggest a good place to start is to find a local CERT or Community Emergency Response Team. Your not committed to any monthly meetings, just go through the training and be ready to help out in your community when an emergency happens. And if your 'adventurous', why not get your Technicians Ham Radio License while your at it!

TTYL… The California Fire Season officially starts in a couple of months!