After Action Summary

for Operation Wildfire

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Summary for Operation Wildfire, Oct 1, 2011

This event is different than all our recent Simulated Emergency Test in that it is not a pure weather create event.  Weather prior to this event was a major player in creating a "ripe" circumstance for this type of event to unfold.  This includes the severe icing and high winds in the previous winter that created all the tender on the ground.  The dry summer prior to this fall event also contributed to conditions being ideal for forest fires.  During the event, moisture and wind speed and direction have a huge result on the ability to fight this fire or remaining safe while being located near the fire.

The scenario is as follows;

Our area Simulated Emergency Test will be held on October 1, 2011 beginning at 0900 and continuing until 1300 (1:00 PM).  This simulation will be based on a Forest Fire (wildfire) situation.  Simulated conditions will be a dry summer and early fall proceeded by a winter of heavy ice and high winds pruning much of the timber of dead limbs in the area of southern Carroll County Virginia.  Thus the ground is covered with brush and dry fallen limbs on the forest floor.  By the time the fire is reported it will have several hours to grow. The fire will begin  in the early morning hours when people are still asleep.  ln these early hours, the flames have been pushed by high winds on the mountain above 3000 feet elevation.  The first indication of problems is when police, fire and rescue repeaters go off the air.  These were all housed at the highest point in the county on Beamers Knob at an elevation of about 3500 feet.  The nearby cell tower has also been taken off the air. Hard wired phone exchanges (728) covering the county seat of Hillsville and the (236) exchange covering the City of Galax and areas around Woodlawn have been taken out but the fire.  By daybreak on October 1st the simulation has brought most normal communications to a near halt.  Much of public service is having to depend on "talk around" (simplex) and some of the remote repeaters that have been used as remote receivers have been switched to act as a repeater but at a much lower elevation than Beamers Knob.  All those depending on dialup and DSL in the 728, 730 and 236 exchanges have lost their Internet and email service.

Public service such as police, fire, rescue and search and rescue have been toned out to meet the challenge of this simulation.  This is the entry point for Emcomm to be called out to provide emergency communications for failed or overloaded communications systems.

Thanks again to all that took part in the SET and those that sent in an After Action Report in regard to their station activity.  When the “Big One” hits Virginia we all should be better prepared to service the communications needs of our state, county, city or family.