If you see smoke in the forest, how am I supposed to report it?

[Joe Schmoe]

We were up on ACH today and saw a small column of smoke coming from an area above the road.  Given the season, we were concerned enough that we wanted to call it in.  There were no signs indicating there was a camp ground at the location.   First we checked our cell and we had no service.  Next we drove up and down the road looking for a call box and didn't see one for a surprising distance before or after the location.  After a bit, no more smoke was visible so we left it alone, but how should a visitor to the forest report that if there's no way to contact someone?  I never really put much effort into looking for them, but are there not regularly spaced call boxes up there?

If anyone is curious, it was HERE (green arrow)

[Mountain hermit]

The location on your map appears to be very close to Little Jimmy Campground.  Could have been a campfire there.  Not sure how you report with the poor reception and few call boxes.

[tcaarabians]

I think you'll get some useful comments from a few of the folks here on WWF that volunteer with
the FS etc. I think what I would have done.. was wait until I had cell coverage and just call it in and
tell them the location and that the smoke seemed to have stopped.  At least they'd know to keep their
eye on the area. They would likely know if it was a campground area that allowed camp fires or not.
best, cheryl o7o

[ForestGal]

  Could have been a campfire there.  Not sure how you report with the poor reception and few call boxes.

Ham radio!  But you have to be licensed for it, and remember to take the thing with you.   

[Wrightwood]

Most call boxes are run by cell signal so if you see a call box most likely your cell phone would work. It should also be noted that many call boxes have been removed as they don't get used because of cell phones.

Get your ham radio ticket and you'd have no problem being able to contact someone. There's no longer a requirement to learn Morse code and it's a 35 question multiple choice test. Cost is about $15 to take the test.

[Toolman]

I agree, get a ham radio license and hand held radio. Even though I have my FS radio while in the field I allways carry a Ham radio for back up. I have used Ham radio on several occasions to report incidents I may witness. Mr. Wrightwood helped me out with one incident while everyone is walking around in circles trying to get cell service.

Many years ago while camping / hiking in the Hoarse Flat camp ground area we spptted a huge column of smoke that made us quite nervous. I grabbed my HT out of my back pack (I think cell phones were as big as shoe boxes back then) and was able to raise the Mt. Dissipointment repeater that is staffed by volunteers of the LACSD. I gave them our location and within minutes they responded with information about a prescribed burn on Mt Waterman. We were still a little nervous about it so we hiked back to camp just in case we needed to get out of there. We all know how "prescribed" burns can go

If you can drive to a spot on ACH and see into the desert you can usually get Cell service and call 911. But there are times as you described and most often no service.

 

[Tall Trees]

Hi Schmoe, Thanks for being alert to smoke in the area and a willingness to step forward and identify a positive location to report to authorities.  These types of actions could result in quick responses from fire fighters and quick suppression of fires before they get out of control.

The U.S. Forest Service has over 25 fire stations on the Angeles N.F, some are staffed year round and others just during the fire season.  It is important to know where these fire stations are since you could walk in and report a fire.  When you were on your outing in the high country the Chilao fire station was to the west and the Big Pines fire station was to the east.  Those were the closest forest service stations that you could report a fire if you did not have any other means of reporting such as cell phone, ham radio, etc.

[Mrs. Hillbilly]

When you're out in an area with no cell/radio service, it's best to send smoke signals....oh wait.....

[tcaarabians]

Pac Fan... You are sick.. wonderfully silly and sick. cheryl o7o