Emergency tower to improve radio communication

CHINO HILLS -- Carbon Canyon residents can breathe a little easier after the construction of a $1.2 million county-built radio tower.

In the event of fire or earthquake, both of which hit Chino Hills last year, emergency personnel better able to communicate with each other through the 70-foot communications tower, officials said. Analysis of the 2008 earthquake and fire response revealed communication problems, officials said.

"That really showed up at the last major fire last November where various departments could not speak to each other, and some engine companies could not be reached," said Councilman Ed Graham.

"This is an 800-megahertz tower that now allows all the agencies of Orange County, and San Bernardino County police and fire to talk to each other."

County Supervisory Gary Ovitt spoke at a ceremony Tuesday to dedicate the new tower near the corner of Carbon Canyon Road and Canon Lane. Ovitt was joined by Graham, Chino Hills Mayor Peter Rogers, and board president Ray Marquez and director John DeMonaco of the Chino Valley Independent Fire District.

This new emergency communications site will increase radio signal coverage in the Carbon Canyon service area for law, fire and EMS first responders," Ovitt said. "It will enhance public-safety communication to better protect the lives and personal property of residents in the Carbon Canyon community of Chino Hills. The recent Freeway Complex fire that threatened Chino Hills greatly exposed how large of an issue the lack of communication was."

Cost for the communications tower was $1.18 million.

Officials said the construction was fast-tracked after Chino Hills was hit by the July 2008 earthquake and the Triangle Complex Fire that November.

neil.nisperos@inlandnewspapers.com

(909) 483-9356