Thanks to volunteers leading the charge, Sonoma County, CA has received its first public-private communications towers. Government Technology reported that the tower has fire cameras, radio service, and a fail-safe digital communications network. The solar-powered tower will also include a weather station to report in real-time on wind and other meteorological conditions.
“It’s turning out to be a really, really cool project,” said Johannes Hoevertsz, Sonoma County’s public infrastructure director. He added that the fire cameras, in the pilot state for the next year, cover Sonoma County from Windsor to the Mendocino County border up north.
After the 2017 Tubbs Fire devastated the area, many residents turned to radio networks for emergency preparedness. The new tower is the next step in strengthening communications infrastructure in the region.
The project was a combined effort between Northern Sonoma County Community Emergency Response Team and radio volunteers, reported Government Technology. Hoevertsz estimated the project cost about $250,000 to build, using county funds and donations from community partners. The partners will be responsible for maintenance on the tower’s road, and volunteers will monitor the radios and cameras.
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