KOOP Fire Extinguishes Programming

For the third time in two years, community based public radio station KOOP 91.7 fm has suffered a studio fire that has put a halt to programming.

Austin Fire Department's community outreach director has indicated that Sunday's fire caused about $100,000 in structural damages and $200,000 in content damages. The source of the fire is unknown and under investigation at this time.

KOOP's first fire in 2006 was caused by a lit cigarette, and the second began in a neighboring building. In December 2006, the station moved to a new facility on Airport Blvd. and had been flame-free, until now.

The Austin community will miss the station's progressive programming (and Jamaican gold on Sundays) until the repairs (estimated now by Kim McCarson, the station's executive director, as being a few weeks worth) are complete. Until then, stay tuned for ways you can support the station during this upsetting period of silence.

For more information, and (imminently) ways you can help, visit KOOP.org.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Paige Maguire in Arts & Entertainment on January 7, 2008 2:57 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

schonuff

Entercom Radio - Austin (Mix 94.7, Majic 95.5 and Talk 1370am) has opened up an extra studio in their building for KOOP to use for at least the next couple weeks. Good for them.

Trancereducer

Residual karma from screwing with the democratic process years ago?

whatevertown

They weren't there when the fires started, obviously. They started late at night or early in the morning when KOOP isn't on-air. Just sounds like bad coincidences to me, especially considering we know what caused the first two and they didn't start in KOOP.

heyzeus

Someone give those dj's the flame retardant pajamas.

LordEric

They have these cool things at Home Depot called "Fire Extinguishers". They're pretty boss at putting out stuff like...oh...I dunno...fires?

LoudMouth

You'd think they'd learn by now how to use an ashtray.

whatevertown

This is very unfortunate. Please keep tuning in to 91.7, until KOOP comes back (hopefully soon!) because it won't just be silence. KVRX (UT's student radio station who shares 91.7 w/ KOOP and is usually on at night) will be on live 24-7 until KOOP comes back.

blakebuesnel

Little late on the draw reporting this Austinist. I guess you're just being fashionably late with news.

mikeharris

AGAIN? seriously?

mikeharris

AGAIN?

kenneth1

I know KOOP likes to feature guests who are "firebrands," flaming gays, & volatile commentators, along with "explosive" debates, but this is getting ridiculous.