Re: Fires in Vic, SA and NSW Feb 09
Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:58 am
From the Wireless Institute of Australia:
WICEN Victoria Activated
Date : 09 / 02 / 2009
Author : Mark Dods VK3XMU
WICEN Victoria has been activated to provide communications links into towns that have had their normal communications destroyed by the bushfires.
WICEN has members currently deployed to operate these links, and more on standby to relieve them. After a few days however, the members available to us will be depleted, and we will require assistance from other Victorian and perhaps interstate Amateurs.
If you can assist with our bushfire response, please contact Mark Dods, VK3XMU preferably by email at secretary@vic.wicen.org.au or by mobile phone: 0409 214 834.
Victorian Bushfire Update
Date : 10 / 02 / 2009
Author : Bruce Bathols - VK3UV
The bushfires in Victoria have caused massive loss of life, and loss of property. The death toll has risen rapidly through the night, with the latest confirmed total of 173 expected to increase throughout the day. Nearly 1000 homes have been destroyed. Tragedy and heartbreak is everywhere and entire towns have been totally destroyed.
The authorities and their resources have been stretched to the limit, and the Amateur Radio Community through WICEN - the Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network has been on high alert since the fires started several days ago. At the height of the fires on Sunday 8th February, WICEN Victoria was formally activated, with members being deployed to areas with loss of power and other facilities.
WICEN operators are assisting the local authorities Kinglake 45 Km north east of Melbourne manning both the Kinglake and Alexandra Shire offices on a 24 hour basis until further notice. It is expected that within the next few days Wicen will do the same from Buxton to Alexandra. Access to Kinglake at present is difficult and operators are being be escorted in from Whittlesea. Alexandra access via Seymour and Yea is unrestricted.
At least one amateur repeater in the north east of the state have been lost, VK3RNU Repeater on Mt Stanley has been destroyed by the fires, and VK3RNE on Mt Big Ben is threatened.
The public announcement prepared and released by Mark Dods on the WIA website last night has brought forward a excellent response. Wicen greatly appreciate the many offers of help, which are be recorded and Amateurs are being contacted as required. Please contact Wicen by email rather than phone to register your offer of assistance, this will ensure the phone lines are kept free for urgent traffic. Wicen asks for your understanding that individual responses to offers are not possible at this time.
Bruce Bathols
VK3UV