The long awaited Range Warning System is in its first operational stages. The warning and control station at center line of the 100-yard covered range is operational as of Friday, October 6. You are encouraged to use this station if you are using the 100-yard covered firing line.
Until the full system is operational – the RANGE HOT sign on the north covered firing line sign shall continue to be used.
Operation is simple of the system is simple. It is intended to alert all shooters on the firing line that the line is about to go COLD (everybody put down their guns and leave them alone while anyone is downrange – Range Rule 1)
At center line there are two warning devices – they are fire alarm strobe/siren alarm stations. There is a control switch directly below the alarms. This switch is a three position switch; UP – CENTER and DOWN.
When it is desired to make the firing line COLD – the switch shall be put in its UP position. In this position the strobe lights on the warning station will begin to flash (one facing north, one facing south) and the warning horns will sound. (There are horns in each of the devices on the station and even though the horns sound intermittently, when both are active, it is a continuous alarm sound).
THE ALARM IS LOUD – you can hear it even with your ear protection on!
Once the alarm has sounded and everyone has put down their firearms, the switch should be placed in the DOWN position. In this position, the annoying alarm horns are silenced, but the strobe lights continue to flash, providing a visual indication that there are people downrange and the range is COLD! The sign on the north covered firing line should be lowered, further indicating that the firing line is COLD!
SO long as shooters are downrange, the strobe light must be energized. If the strobe is flashing, someone is downrange somewhere. When all shooters have returned to the firing line, the RANGE HOT sign at the north covered position should be raised and the switch may be returned to the UP position, giving another blast from the warning horns. This is an “ALL CLEAR” blast. The announcement should be made “THE LINE IS HOT”. The switch should then be returned to the center OFF position, the line is HOT!
Over the next several weeks, as time and weather allow, two additional control stations will be added to the 100-yard covered firing points and an additional set of alarm and control stations will be installed on the north covered firing line. Labels are being prepared for the switch boxes that indicate “HORN & STROBE – OFF and STROBE switch positions.
BE SAFE OUT THERE!