Fire Threatens Mt. Wilson Broadcast Transmitters as L.A. TV and Radio Stations on Alert; Observatory Evacuated

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The destructive Eaton fire is now targeting Mount Wilson, jeopardizing the antenna farm, broadcast transmitters, and the historic Mt. Wilson observatory situated there. If the fire ascends to the mountain peak, it could create significant communication problems and potentially hamper the broadcast capabilities of Los Angeles’ key TV and radio stations.

According to KCBS/KCAL news, hand crews have arrived at Mt. Wilson to fight the blaze.

The majority of television stations in Los Angeles transmit their signals from Mt. Wilson. This includes 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). Additionally, many FM radio stations also broadcast from there, such as 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.

In case of a fire that damages the Mt. Wilson transmitting towers, local television stations won’t sustain as significant an impact compared to past times: Modern cable, satellite, and telecommunication systems typically remain unaffected because stations transmit their feeds to providers through fiber-optic cables. Moreover, local TV stations now also distribute their live news broadcasts via streaming apps. However, viewers who depend on over-the-air signals for their television coverage would need alternative methods during such an event, especially in a critical situation like the Los Angeles fires. This could pose a significant issue for them to access local programming temporarily.

However, while television audience decline will be mitigated by cable, satellite, and streaming services, some L.A. FM radio stations may not fare as well. Some of these stations have backup towers in different locations that could swiftly resume broadcasting, but at reduced power and with a narrower reach.

Much of the infrastructure on Mount Wilson is constructed with robust materials like cinderblocks, giving engineers optimism that fires may not lead to widespread damage. However, it’s important to note that Mount Wilson has faced threats from fires in the past, such as the Station Fire in 2009 which scorched over 160,000 acres within the Angeles National Forest, and another fire in 2017. Moreover, the Bobcat Fire in 2020 came close to burning approximately 116,000 acres nearby.

Currently, the Mt. Wilson Observatory has shared an update on its Instagram account: “The Eaton fire is moving towards Mount Wilson. Firefighters are present on the premises, however, power outages have restricted communication. We’re keeping a close eye on the situation and will share updates as they become available. Thank you for your concern.” On Wednesday, it was reported that most of the staff had been evacuated, with a small team remaining to monitor the situation. “The Observatory is secure at this time, though images from our webcams are quite alarming. We’re in contact with mountain personnel to get updates.” The observatory has been operational since 1904.

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2025-01-10 00:16