On the morning of May 28, 2025, at approximately 9:11 AM local time, the NOAA transmitter located at our facility experienced an unexpected equipment anomaly. The malfunction resulted in electrical arcing and visible smoke emissions from the transmitter unit, triggering the building’s fire alarm system.
KFOR engineering staff responded immediately, isolating the problem and cutting power to the transmitter by tripping the breaker at 9:13 AM. This action successfully stopped the arcing and prevented any further damage or risk.
Following the incident, the transmitter building was ventilated for several hours to clear out residual smoke. While the immediate hazard was mitigated quickly and no injuries or structural damage occurred, a lingering smell of overheated electronic components remains noticeable.
The NOAA Engineering Staff was notified.
NOAA personnel arrived on site and successfully restored service by switching to the backup transmitter at 11:51 AM. This ensured continued broadcast capability while the primary system is being assessed and repaired.
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