Members of Mile High Radio Club notified us early Friday morning, November 14, that Radio WNKI 1610 AM is back on the air after a silence of about 6 weeks. The station is licensed to Idyllwild Fire Protection District and had been operated by members of MHRC under an agreement signed by the previous IFPD Chief, Patrick Reitz, in 2014.

Communication between IFPD and MHRC appear to have broken down in 2021. A letter from present IFPD Chief Mark LaMont outlining new requirements for MHRC members wishing to access WNKI equipment in a non-public area of the fire station was never received by the club, according to board members. In September of this year, IFPD and MHRC exchanged letters ending the working relationship and laying out a timeline for the removal of MHRC property from the station, and according to MHRC the locks on the radio room were changed.

IFPD Chief Mark LaMont took issue with last week’s headline about a “rift” between MHRC and IFPD. “I do not feel that there is a “rift” between MHRC and IFPD. There was a disagreement about the requirements to be a volunteer in any capacity with IFPD. MHRC had chosen not to meet all the requirements.”

LaMont also clarified that WNKI was never “down” or off the air. “WNKI is an EMERGENCY Radio Broadcast Frequency which is operated on 1610am within our area by the Idyllwild Fire Protection District Staff. There is no regulation nor rule stating that “something” or “anything” must be broadcast on that frequency at all times. Therefore, the IFPD makes determinations as to necessary content and broadcast of information on that emergency radio frequency. From time to time no broadcasting on that frequency may occur which in no way should imply that WNKI is not operable or down.”

The Chief added that IFPD continues to care for and improve the station. “The IFPD has recently made significant improvements to our broadcast capabilities on WNKI 578 1610 a.m. which include its relocation to our communications site as well as all new lightning protections, a new antenna and new ground plane which allows for much better broadcast capability and reception.”

WNKI’s function is to provide travelers with information about road conditions and timely and reliable information during emergencies including evacuations. Its reach has been limited by our terrain, but funding has been secured for a “ribbon network” of small transmitters to allow travelers to pick up the station from Pinyon Pines to Poppet flats. The plan, approved in 2015, called for transmitters to be installed at Ranger Peak (about 2 miles southeast of Diamond Zen Center) and CalFire Stations 23 (Pine Cove), 53 (Garner Valley), and 30 (Pinyon).

WNKI, as of Friday November 14, is broadcasting messages including warnings cautioning drivers about two projects on Highway 243: the CalTrans mill and overlay which includes drainage and guardrails, and IFPD’s Idyllwild Right of Way project reducing fuel vegetation along the highway and other major roads.