VSF 02.02: Fire Station ARO: Difference between revisions

File:VSF 02 Communications.emblem.png|'''''VSF icon'''''

A [[Volunteer Support Functions Introduction and Directory|Volunteer Support Function (VSF)]] is a functional area under which volunteers carry out their responsibilities. Each VSF is broken into position assignments. VSF 02.02 is the position assigned to volunteers who are trained and ready to operate the amateur radio [[Operations at Fire Stations#Orange Go-Kits|Orange Go-Kit]] at a Portland fire station. This is usually, but not always, done in service of the BEECN program. They are considered a BEECN volunteer and listed in BEECN volunteer rosters.

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[https://www.portland.gov/beecn BEECN] volunteers operate in organized cohorts, perform regular equipment checks, participate in drills, and deploy communication nodes (BEECNs) 24–48 hours after a major earthquake. Since BEECN caches operate on handheld UHF radios, they cannot talk directly with the Portland EOC. The fire station nearest to a BEECN cache serves to relay radio traffic to the [[PBEM Emergency Operations Center (EOC)|EOC]] through use of a VHF radio set, called an Orange Go-Kit. Fire Station AROs operate that go kit.

| style="background-color:skyblue; padding:15px;" |...stay in contact with their BEECN Coordinator, participate in BEECN equipment checks, exercises, and inventories. They monitor the [https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=9094103decb2475885daa0b03ac13496 BEECN readiness score] for their assigned fire station. They keep on top of their radio skills, and stay in contact with the captain and/or lieutenants at their assigned fire station.

| style="background-color:lightgray; padding:15px;" |...deploy to their assigned fire station, set up the radio, and facilitate radio traffic between their BEECNs and the EOC.

[[VSF 02.02: Fire Station ARO]]

* Deploy to assigned fire station within 24–48 hours following a major earthquake.

* Set up radio equipment at the fire station. Commence operations as described in [[Operations at Fire Stations|Fire Station Operations]] in the BEECN Guidelines.

* Conduct periodic checks and inventory of the Orange Go-Kit to ensure readiness.

{{VSF Position

| id = 02.02: Fire Station ARO

| area = response

| structure = The fire station ARO is part of a BEECN Cohort, and the volunteer reports to the BEECN Coordinator for their assigned fire station.

| skills = Operating a VHF amateur radio set. Ability to remain cool headed in intense situations.

| certifications = Technician class amateur radio license in good standing. Higher classes of amateur radio license (e.g. General or Amateur Extra) encouraged. Once licensed, volunteer must then be certified as a PBEM Amateur Radio Operator (ARO).

| currency = Volunteers must be in touch with their BEECN Coordinator and appear on the roster of their BEECN Response Framework. They should also participate in inventories and exercises as their time allows. Because all BEECN volunteers are indemnified, they '''''are''''' '''''required''''' to log their hours but '''''not''''' required to meet the twelve hour [[Minimum Service Contribution (MSC)|Minimum Service Contribution (MRC)]] unless they are also a NET volunteer. However, '''they should log at least one hour each calendar year minimum''' to remain in active status.

| physical = A volunteer must be inside a 20-minute walk or bike ride of the fire station they are assigned to.

| equipment = '''PPE:''' Weather appropriate clothes.

'''Equipment:''' All the equipment a BEECN volunteer needs should be in their Orange Go-Kit.

| forms = [[Operations at BEECN Sites#Deployment Planning: the BEECN Response Framework|BEECN Response Framework]]

| updated = 2025.06.01 ''(version 2.0)''

| released = 2017.10.03

}}

=== Training for VSF 02.02: Fire Station ARO ===

|PBEM ARO Training

|In-person

|Varies

|After getting licensed, a PBEM Radio Training Liaison (RTL) will instruct the incumbent ARO volunteer on how to operate the Orange Go-Kit.

=== VSF 02.02: Fire Station ARO Knowledge Base ===