Information is power in an emergency. But when the power and WiFi go out, people have to go old school for the information they need.
From his daughter’s bedroom, Hans Laetz and his all-volunteer crew helped residents affected by the Franklin Fire. After he and his wife converted the room into the station’s studio nearly a decade ago, Laetz and 99.1 KBUU became Malibu’s only local radio station.
“People could go to their cars and turn on the radio because people don’t have clock radios anymore,” Laetz said. “The internet was dead, so there was no streaming.”
Over the past 48 hours, the eight people behind KBUU have worked tirelessly since the flames flared up late Monday evening.
“I took a 45-minute nap on the floor,” Laetz said of the breaks he’s been taking since the Franklin Fire broke out.
Laetz and his colleagues used their hyperlocal knowledge of the area to obtain information about road closures, evacuations and flare-ups.
“KCAL was a big help because we keep an eye on you and if your helicopter is flying over something, your pilot knows this is Malibu. I know where it is in Malibu and can say this is the house on Palm Tree Lane that is currently is on fire at KCAL,” Laetz said. “That’s a big help for people in the community because they know exactly where the fire is by listening to us.”
KBUU has stepped in to help the coastal community, including during the Woolsey Fire.
“During the last fire, the Woolsey Fire, people came to me in tears and said we saved them.” All we did was tell the news, broadcast the news, but we know the area and we can see where the fire is. go where the wind is, where the fire is,” Laetz said.
Laetz said they will stay aloft as long as possible in this and the next emergency to help their neighbors stay alert and alive.
“I’ve been a news reporter or photographer, or both, or assignment editor since I was 15, and that’s a long time ago,” Laetz said.
