Fallbrook has an abundance of nonprofit organizations, community groups and clubs that are the heartbeat of the town. They gather, they work, they engage and they get the job done, all for the betterment of the community.
One of these groups is the Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club, founded in the latter part of 1987. The Fallbrook Repeater was established in 1989 to provide emergency communications should the need ever arise. Club members support local emergency communications via the Fallbrook N6FQ repeaters, located atop Red Mountain. From this site, antennas provide coverage across Fallbrook, Rainbow, Bonsall, De Luz and surrounding communities.
Members support the North County Fire Protection District and provide backup communications for the Red Cross.
The Dewey Emergency Communications Center, located within the Emergency Operations Center for the North County Fire Protection District, serves as a base for amateur radio operators during emergencies. While the facility may be impacted by the future remodel of Scout Hut, amateur radio operators will continue to support fire department operations during major incidents.
Through the Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club, more than 30 trained operators are available to assist during emergencies such as fires and earthquakes, relaying real-time information from locations throughout the community. During the Lilac Fire in 2017, members played a critical role in keeping residents informed and safe.
The group has also supported communications during the De Luz floods of 1993, the Gavilan Fire in 2002 and the Rice Fire in 2007. In addition, the club hosts several field days, all-day events focused on emergency preparedness and training.
Fun fact: The Fallbrook Repeater was the first repeater on the West Coast used for space communications. That contact took place on April 6, 1991.
Many club members are also involved in organizations such as Auxiliary Communications Service and RACES, Amateur Radio Emergency Services, the Red Cross, SkyWarn, CERT and Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce event committees.
The club also provides real-time public information resources through its website, including fire and emergency updates, law enforcement activity, traffic conditions, weather alerts, earthquake data and power outage information.
Beyond emergency response, the club supports community events including the Avocado Festival, Harvest Faire, Christmas Parade, Veterans Parade and other local gatherings.
The Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce has had the pleasure of working with the dedicated men and women of this club and cannot imagine Fallbrook without them. They are prepared and willing to spring into action to help keep the community safe.
The group received the Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 and continues to be deserving of recognition every day.
Information: visit www.fallbrookarc.org.
