Los Angeles Fire Threatens Mt. Wilson Communication Transmitters
Elon Musk already promised free Starlink terminals.
The Eaton fire in Los Angeles has reached Mt. Wilson, which houses communication and broadcast transmitters.
Police and firefighters rely on those towers to communicate with each other. The destruction would also affect truck drivers using radios.
The majority of LA’s broadcast stations have antennas on Mt. Wilson. From Variety:
According to KCBS/KCAL news, hand crews have arrived at Mt. Wilson to fight the blaze.
Most of Los Angeles’ TV stations broadcast from Mt. Wilson, including KCBS (CBS 2), KNBC (NBC 4), KTLA (Channel 5), KABC (ABC 7), KCAL (Channel 9), KTTV (Fox 11), KCOP (Channel 13), KCET (PBS SoCal 2 Channel 28), KOCE (PBS SoCal 1 Channel 50) and KMEX (Univision 34). FM stations broadcasting from there include KPCC-FM 89.3, KPFK-FM 90.7, KUSC-FM 91.5, KRRL-FM 92.3, KCBS-FM 93.1, KLLI-FM 93.9, KTWV 94.7, KLOS-FM 95.5, KNX-FM 97.1, KKLA-FM 99.5, KKLQ-FM 100.3, KRTH-FM 101.1, KSCA-FM 101.9, KIIS-FM 102.7, KOST-FM 103.5, KBIG-FM 104.3, KKGO-FM 105.1, KPWR-FM 105.9 and KLVE-FM 107.5.
#BREAKING: CRITICAL communication infrastructure is on the verge of being incinerated by the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles
Most LA TV and radio stations have their antennas atop Mt. Wilson, including NBC, ABC, CBS, etc.
Today’s Starlink deliveries are now vital, as emergency… pic.twitter.com/YkIb4WZ0kC
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 9, 2025
BREAKING
Reporters say this WILL be CATASTROPHIC as this location has towers and satellites that Firefighters and Police are using now for communications. This will impact radio stations and TV NEWS! pic.twitter.com/g4CiDrt6ou
— Anthony (@AnthonyCabassa_) January 9, 2025
The Famous Mt. Wilson Observatory staff announced the majority evacuated from the building, leaving behind a few to keep watch.
The Observatory has no power, limiting communication.
Elon Musk already promised Starlink terminals to the affected areas.
It seems TV stations have already used Starlink because cell towers aren’t working.
SpaceX will provide free Starlink terminals to affected areas in LA tomorrow morning https://t.co/hm4k3hAmq2
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 9, 2025
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Comments
There’s always NVIS. Break out your ham radio licenses.
What a silly thing to say.
Not at all, ham radio has played a huge role in disaster recovery as long as I can remember. I do think that a majority of people in LA are not capable of obtaining a license.
NVIS would apply to HF, wouldn’t it? Most radio communications used by police, fire, emergency and truckers would be UHF and VHF, which are primarily line of sight with assists provided by repeaters placed on hills (Shinall Mountain near us). What’s your handle, good buddy?
CB’s don’t require the cell towers. Truck drivers do use applications for Elogs but those will run off any cell tower and some use satellite.
I guess you’ve never heard of repeaters? Lots of mobile hams (and many truck drivers are licensed) an even fixed stations use repeaters that are often located on hills near tv and radio antenna farms. CB radios?
CB has been trash since its inception. I is AM (static), short range, nearly useless. 5 mile range if fairly open areas, about 10 on open water, in cities maybe a mile or two.
This is exactly the sort of emergency HAM radios are good for. Get a boatload of the handhelds out to people and waive licensing restrictions for the emergency. (Yes, unfortunately, the handhelds are all Chinese made.)
They are affordable.
Elon. Amazing guy. His inventions and ability to deploy them. Without even being asked.
Sure glad he’s our doge.
Speaking of KPCC, I was on that station in its days as KPCS. I wonder if the trusty ol’ General Electric Phase-A-Tron transmitter (250w) is still there and would run if fired up?
On the one hand, my heart goes out to everyone affected by these horrible fires. I cannot imagine the horror and the heartache they’re going through.
On the other hand (here we go…) I cannot imagine stupidity so vast and so deep as to live in an area that is loaded to the brim with fuel, has a long history of fires, has had zero rain since forever, being run by elected officials that deliberately ignored the electorates desire to build water storage, refused to clear underbrush, allowed reservoirs to go dry, cut the fire department budget while emphasizing DEI.
If the citizens of LA can get to La Brea tar pits they might find enough tar to use on their politicians because they richly deserve it.
has had zero rain since forever
Except last year, evidently. Which would have been a good time to store up all the extra….
And they also wasted most of that water.
Talk about an investment….. cut a few million dollars for firefighting and get a 50+ billion dollars “return” on that investment….. Will LA treat US citizens who are now homeless equal to the illegals? Doubt it…. all the money has been spent on assuring one party rule … of the ashes.
Dresden, Hamburg , Tokyo…. then Maui and the pièce de résistance…L.A. They all look the same ….. dare I say intentional in one form or another?
It must be asked — what if California’s wretched, stupid and incompetent Dhimmi-crat apparatchiks had spent a fraction of the money (state and federal) that they’ve squandered on their “high-speed rail” choo-choo train to nowhere, on new dams, prescribed burns and water reservoirs?
I bet the status of Ozymandias was pretty pricey itself.
Victor Davis Hanson: The good , the bad, and maybe the good again of California.
“https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgmR_5Hi2fw”
There is a giant ocean right there on the left. Why not put holding ponds up and down the coast with pipes into the ocean or even auxiliary pipes so the firetrucks can pump sea water in an emergency?
Pumping sea water onto wildfires has bad side effects, I think.
However, they could have built desalination plants, too.
Dumping seawater on the fire would be a huge disaster in its won right., but maybe a lessor evil.