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Temporary Low Power Service Restored To 91.5fm

We are sad to report that our main transmitter site at Buckhorn Mountain is threatened by the High Park Fire. An alternative temporary low power signal on 91.5fm has been established.

Updated on 6/11/2012 at 4:03pm

A new stable microwave link is in place for our temporary signal on 91.5fm. We should be on the air in a few places in Weld and Larimer county. 102.7fm in Boulder is back on the air as well. We've also got some good news this afternoon as the tower and transmitter site on Buckhorn Mtn. appears to be safe from the fire.

We've confirmed that there is no damage to either our tower or the transmitter and the issue at the site is a power failure. Depending on fire conditions power could be restored to the site within maybe 48hrs. This would not only ensure that emergency communications for the fire remain uninterrupted but would also bring KUNC's main transmitter back online.

Update on 6/11/2012 at 1:04pm

We have established a temporary low power signal on 91.5fm that can be heard in parts of Weld and Larimer County. We have also reestablished service on 102.7fm in Boulder. Please let us know if you can tune it in and where you are so we can judge coverage.

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KUNC's main transmitter is located on Buckhorn Mountain which is directly in the fire zone of the High Park Fire. There is no power at the site and as a result, KUNC is not on the air on 91.5fm.

Buckhorn Mountain also houses the county communications gear and is the hub for radio traffic for crews fighting the High Park Fire. Larimer County equipment is currently operating on backup battery power.

Update on 6/10/2012 at 8:37pm via Jack Elias on Twitter

 

Update on 6/10/2012 at 3:58pm

The KUNC personnel sent up to the transmitter site got within 1/4 mile of the Rist Canyon roadblock, however they were turned away by the Larimer Sheriff due to changing conditions. They have returned with pictures that we will be posting shortly. We do not have an update at this time on the condition of the facility, however plans are in the works for getting a generator on site as soon as conditions allow us to.

Update on 6/10/2012 at 1:12pm

Speaking on 7News moments ago, John Schulz with the Larimer County Sheriff's office was covering the status of Buckhorn Mtn. Buckhorn houses both the main transmitter site for KUNC, all county communications, and KJAC and KXGR. According to Schulz there is no power on site and only battery backup, which will eventually run out. Fire authorities are working on protection for the site since it houses critical communications.

I can also report that KUNC has received permission to visit the site and personnel are on their way up there. We hope to have more details, a damage assessment, a report and pictures from the scene soon.

Update on 6/10/2012 at 10:01am

This video from yesterday shows the proximity of the fire to our transmitter site on Buckhorn Mtn.

http://youtu.be/n8BIK66TC5g

Update on 6/10/2012 at 7:44am

18 structures have been confirmed lost or damaged in the High Park Fire at this time. No further details are available on the structures, and we do not have any additional word on Buckhorn Mtn. Our coverage for today has been moved to this post.

Update at 9:13pm

The fire has not reached the towers yet but it is making a good push up the hill. There is one line of fire retardant that has been dropped but no ground forces to fight the fire.

We have archived our day 1 coverage of the fire at this post.

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We have no word at this point if the outage is due to damage by the fire or if power was simply lost because of the fire at the transmitter site. We will update as soon as we have information.

Several of our translators are fed by the main over the air signal from 91.5fm, including 102.7fm in Boulder.

The following signals are fed by satellite:

Golden 91.7, KVNC 90.7 (Vail-Minturn), KMPB 88.3 (Breckenridge), KRNC 88.5 (Steamboat). Eagle Count 99.7, 88.7 Yuma and Eastern Plains (except Sterling & Ft Morgan).

Streaming is still available and mobile apps as well: KUNC.org/listen