KLICKITAT COUNTY – On October 30, 2023 the Satus Pass Public Safety Radio Site became fully operational as part of the County’s existing Public Safety Radio System.
The Satus Pass Radio Site’s primary coverage area is along Highway 97 from Jenkins Creek Rd, north to the Klickitat County line and the Box Canyon Road area. Additionally, there is new coverage on Bickleton Highway in the Rock Creek drainage area and along most of Rock Creek Road from the Bickleton Hwy to State Route 14. This new radio system coverage will benefit responders and public safety in all of these areas by providing public safety radio coverage to areas that had limited or no radio system coverage until now.
On Monday October 30, 2023 radio system user representatives that respond to and work in the affected area, including Klickitat County Fire District #7, KCFD #5 – Centerville, Goldendale City Fire Department, Klickitat County Public Works, and Klickitat County Department of Emergency Management 9-1-1 Dispatch participated in Proof of Performance field testing. This testing demonstrated that mobile radio coverage in the Satus Pass site coverage area was very good and portable radio coverage was loud and clear at locations that had no radio system coverage previously. All of the radio system users that participated in the testing agreed that this new radio system coverage would greatly increase their ability to provide for public and personnel safety as they respond to these areas for motor vehicle collisions, wildfires, medical emergencies, criminal activity of all kinds, plowing and maintenance of County roads.
Jeff King, Director of Klickitat County Emergency Management, said “I want to thank all of the people that have put many hours & some many years of work and dedication into seeing this project to completion and making this improvement in KC Public Safety Radio System service possible. The Board of County Commissioners (past & present), staff from KCDEM & KC Public Works, ADCOMM Engineering, Day Wireless Systems, and Radio Service Solutions – THANK YOU!”