Falling Trees Put Stations Off Air

Ice Storm ‘96 and its after-flakes continue to generate static on four local radio stations.

KPBX, KDRK, KMBI-FM, and KNFR were knocked off the air Tuesday morning when power lines running up to their broadcast facilities on Mica Peak were knocked down.

Power was restored at 4 p.m.

Washington Water Power Co. spokeswoman Dana Anderson said heavy, wet snow toppled trees along the four-mile-long line that extends from the Liberty Lake substation to the summit.

Saturated soils provide no support for the overburdened trees, she said.

The power line, Anderson added, is accessible only by snow machine or foot, which has slowed repairs. Additional outages are possible given the terrain and the line’s vulnerability, she said.

Spokesmen for the affected stations said outages have plagued their operations since the ice storm.

KDRK and KNFR have generators or alternate ways of broadcasting. KPBX and KMBI-FM cannot broadcast without WWP power.

KMBI-AM can from its facility on South Freya, said announce Rich Montieth. , DataTimes