The rash of wildfires in the western U.S. this summer has taken a significant toll on the ham community. Sixty-six-year-old Mark McCloud, K6YCV, of Caleveras County, California, was one of two people who died in the Butte fire in mid-September after refusing to follow an evacuation order. According to the ARRL Letter, the county coroner said McCloud and the other victim were both found dead in their homes, which were destroyed by the fire.
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| The Lake Chelan Amateur Radio Club's 2- and 6-meter repeaters, housed in the building seen here, were destroyed by the First Creek fire. (Photo from the Lake Chelan ARC website, <http://lakechelanradioclub.webs.com/photo-gallery> |
In
Washington State, the First Creek fire in late August destroyed two repeaters
belonging to the Lake Chelan Amateur Radio Club. The ARRL Letter reported
that the building housing the club's 2-meter and 6-meter repeaters was completely
leveled by the fire.
Hams
up and down the west coast provided communications support for a variety of
firefighting efforts.