Emergency responders in Los Angeles battling severe wildfires just received help from billionaire Elon Musk, who delivered Starlink devices to restore communication services.
Key Facts:
• SpaceX CEO Elon Musk donated Starlink terminals for firefighters and other rescue teams.
• Nonprofit group Grey Bull Rescue joined Musk to set up the devices in the Los Angeles area.
• Thousands of residents lost internet or cellphone connectivity due to the fires.
• Musk also pledged Cybertrucks as mobile bases with power sources for the Starlink units.
• Wildfires in Southern California have displaced residents and destroyed neighborhoods, resulting in numerous deaths.
The Rest of The Story:
Multiple blazes—such as the Palisades Fire—have swept through Southern California for about a week.
They have left entire neighborhoods in ruins and forced families to evacuate.
Communication outages also made it difficult for people to call for help or let loved ones know they were safe.
Musk’s Starlink devices rely on low-orbit satellites to beam internet signals, which is crucial in remote or disaster-hit areas where cell towers may be down.
Nonprofit volunteers from Grey Bull Rescue have been on the ground, coordinating with first responders and helping with evacuations.
Having Starlink on-site offers faster access to emergency data, improves rescue operations, and allows crews to share information in real time.
Elon Musk personally joined the effort to hand out more Starlinks, demonstrating his willingness to help address disaster relief challenges.
Apologies to those expecting Cybertruck deliveries in California over the next few days.
We need to use those trucks as mobile base stations to provide power to Starlink Internet terminals in areas of LA without connectivity.
A new truck will be delivered end of week.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 12, 2025
He also tweeted that some Cybertrucks would be temporarily reassigned to power Starlinks in areas where electricity is compromised.
Local officials believe this could speed up response times and possibly help contain wildfire damage.
So far, at least 24 lives have been lost in these fires, and entire blocks have been turned to ash.
Despite their efforts, firefighters and rescue teams need more resources to serve impacted communities.
Authorities encourage donations and volunteer efforts from across the nation.
We’ve setup our Starlink on the coast to provide internet to the area
It’s surreal
Everyone has been so helpful
Thank you all for your support
Cybertruck LA Starlink support team is live pic.twitter.com/mtklddrhIA
— farbood — e/acc (@farbood) January 13, 2025
The Bottom Line:
Musk’s contribution helps fill a critical communications gap for first responders as they fight major fires across Los Angeles.
This technology allows rescue crews to coordinate more effectively and offer faster help.
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Although many have lost their homes or been displaced, the improved connectivity may help save lives and reduce further tragedy.