| What is "VIP"? |
The California Department of Forestry's
Volunteer In Prevention (VIP) program has been around for over 20 years.
Volunteers provide several types of services that in turn enable CDF to
better utilize their employees: |
| |
Public Information Officer
Home Safety Inspections
CDF Information Booths at "How To" fairs, county fairs, etc.
Amateur Radio Communications |
| My Role: |
My primary interest is, of course,
participating in the amateur radio portion of the program. As hams, we
assist CDF during fires and other emergencies by providing communications
on ham frequencies. This in turn frees up traffic on CDF's own limited
radio channels. It also serves to off-load communications duties from
CDF personnel, making them available for other assignments. |
| |
I am a volunteer with the Santa Clara
Ranger Unit, which is headquartered in Morgan Hill, CA. In addition to
having a permanent station Morgan Hill HQ, we also have a
communications van that can be driven to base camps and other events.
This van, which contains both CDF and amateur radio gear, is designed to
serve as a mobile communications center for any major CDF incident, but
also serves to "show off" CDF's capabilities at fairs, exhibitions, etc. |
| Interested? |
You can learn more about the CDF VIP
program by looking on CDF's official
web site. Click on the "Fire Safety Education" link (on the left
sidebar), then on "Volunteers In Prevention" (on the right sidebar). |
| |
You can also check out the web site for
the Santa Clara Ranger Unit in Morgan
Hill, CA. You'll find pictures from our ranger unit on that site, as
well as contact information for the Santa Clara unit in specific. |