Stay informed if fires disrupt info
By Dave Mason
Scripps Ranch Fire Safe Council
When a wildfire threatens your community, having reliable information can make the difference between being prepared and being caught off guard. The 2025 Eaton and Palisades Fires in the Los Angeles area showed how quickly you can lose access to your usual sources of information when you need them most.
The Eaton Fire burned approximately 14,000 acres, while the Palisades Fire consumed more than 24,000 acres. During these events, many people needed urgent updates about evacuations, road closures, emergency services and safety information – but many of their normal communication tools were unavailable.
Why your internet and cell service may fail: You may depend on your smartphone and internet connection for nearly everything, including emergency information. However, these systems can be vulnerable during a wildfire.
Most home internet services –including fiber, cable, DSL and fixed wireless – require electricity at your home and rely on neighborhood equipment that also needs power. Cell service can also be affected by power outages, damaged infrastructure, and heavy demand when many people are trying to communicate at the same time.
Emergency responders use dedicated communication systems, but you should also have backup options available. Battery-powered chargers, vehicle chargers, portable hotspots and satellite internet options can help you stay connected, but they may not always be available during a large-scale disaster.
Traditional media: your reliable backup: A fire safe plan should include more than just your phone and internet connection. Traditional media remains one of the most dependable ways for you to receive emergency information when other systems fail.
Consider adding these items to your emergency preparations:
- An AM/FM/weather radio as part of your fire safe kit
- A working radio in your home to receive local emergency broadcasts
- Your vehicle radio, which can provide important updates when other communication systems are unavailable
- A simple TV antenna allowing you to receive local broadcast channels without cable, internet or streaming services
In San Diego, stations such as KPBS (89.5 FM), KOGO (600 AM), and KFI (640 AM) provide local news and emergency information that can help you make informed decisions and stay safe.
Local television stations, including NBC7, CBS8, KUSI, FOX5, ABC10, and KPBS, continue providing news and emergency updates even when your cable or internet service is unavailable. With a simple antenna connected to your television, you can receive these local broadcasts for free.
Prepare before the fire: A wildfire is not the time to discover that your only source of information depends on a service that may not be available. Creating a backup communication plan now is an important step in keeping yourself, your family and your community fire safe.
The Scripps Ranch Fire Safe Council is committed to helping you stay informed and connected – even if your internet and cable services are disrupted during a wildfire.
If you would like more information, please reach out to us. We can help you prepare your communication plan and stay fire safe. Start here by watching “TV Without Cable” – youtube.com/watch?v=UdQ2T_zxyXc
Learn more: Visit srfiresafe.org/about. Stay informed. Stay prepared. Stay Fire Safe.