Rocky Ridge/East Bay tower down

[mmckenna]

Just heard through the grape vine that very early this morning a tower on top of Rocky Ridge in the East Bay was brought down by vandalism. Guy wires were cut and the tower collapsed.
East Bay Regional Parks Police are investigating. If you have any info on this, please contact:
Sgt. Tracy Desiderio, 510-690-6590,
tdesiderio-a t-ebparks dot org

 

[jland138]

East Bay radio tower vandalism

KTVU story with picture of the collapsed tower: Vandalism topples East Bay radio tower | www.ktvu.com

 

[Sac916]

Vandals topple radio tower in contra Costa Co

1 million in damages.
http://news.kron4.com/news/vandals-linked-to-radio-tower-collapse/

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 via Tapatalk Android app

 

[Jimru]

Vandals topple radio tower in contra Costa Co

Wow.

Whatever happened to stealing street signs? Not enough of a rush?

That is incredible and likely to produce copy cat incidents.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[carlt]

It could be as simple (stupid) as people who cut live electrical wire - for the scrap/recycling value.

 

[mmckenna]

When it's a situation like this, it's often someone who knows what they are doing. Disgruntled employee, etc. Knowing who exactly is on that tower would probably narrow things down.

Kind of risky, cutting the guy wires. You'd have to be a fast runner if it started to come your way.

 

[gariac]

I've hiked in that park (Las Trampas) many times, though I never went up to the tower. That takes a permit from the water district. Of course, that didn't stop this/these clown(s). But the tower isn't all that much beyond the ridge trail, which isn't that much of a hike. The park gates are closed at night, so the person(s) either went on foot or possibly ATV.

I don't think the park has a curfew (not yet anyway), so you can hike it after the gates are locked. But the park district has an office nearby in the old Nike site that the person(s) would have to drive by if they used the Bollinger Road entrance. The county search and rescue team often trains in Las Trampas on a Monday evening. The culprit(s) got really lucky, i.e. they picked the worse possible day.

IIRC, the park district has a small dish on their building pointing at the tower, though it may not be used as a backhaul (i.e. 24&7) which would trigger an alarm.

Most towers in the East Bay area have security cameras pointing down at the ground. Having never been right next to this particular tower, I can't say if it had cameras, but it would be an exception to the rule.

Some google earth waypoints:
Parking area: 37°48'42.39"N 122° 2'37.30"W
Gate: 37°48'43.75"N 122° 2'37.67"W
Park district building (note the green trucks): 37°48'27.38"N 122° 2'15.59"W
Former rocket maintenance facility: 37°48'45.73"N 122° 2'33.81"W
Tower: 37°48'56.99"N 122° 3'44.70"W
Gate leading towards tower: 37°49'1.45"N 122° 3'41.16"W

The park is also under a flight path, so there is a potential some private pilot spotted something. I can't believe this thing wouldn't come down without something sparking.

 

[iamhere300]

Just lost revenue is going to be expensive on that thing. Lots of antennas.

 

[radioman2001]

This should be a lesson for all tower owners, no guyed towers for Public Safety at least. Many years ago an AM station in nearby NJ was taken down by vandals. Fortunately or unfortunately the one of the culprits was killed the other did a long stretch in prison. BTW they simply used a hacksaw, so that shows how easy it could be to take down an entire network.
Hopefully they can qualify for a Fed grant that will allow for a real 4 solid core legged free standing replacement.

 

[mmckenna]

This should be a lesson for all tower owners, no guyed towers for Public Safety at least.

Excellent point. Self supporting towers are the way to go, especially for a site with that many microwave antennas. I've been to a number of sites with guyed towers and the guy anchors are outside the perimeter fence.

 

[screenersam]

wasn't there an article in Monitoring Times in the last month or two, about a tower going down in the 1940s?
heck of a coincidence. will have to research further.

 

[ki4wbn]

It easily tops $1 million. Just the tower alone without the other infrastructure is that much.
There have been many towers that have come down by guy wire failure, whether intentional or not. All it takes is for one to snap, and the whole tower can recoil and ultimately cause it to come down. Surprisingly, they were able to get all four cut before that happened.

 

[bill4long]

If I owned a million dollar tower, you best believe there would be video cameras watching the place.

 

[mmckenna]

I highly doubt that is a million dollar tower. The million dollar figure is the cost of the tower, feed line and antennas combined. You're maybe looking at a $100K or less for the tower, much more to install it, and a probably another $200K for the antennas, feed line, wave guides and hardware.

And, you don't need to cut all the guys. Cutting one will release enough tension on one side of the tower to throw it off.

From the photos, the tower was pretty well loaded, so it wouldn't take much to bring it down. It'll likely get replaced with a self supporting style with a wider face on it to better support the microwave antennas.

 

[iamhere300]

mmckenna has it pretty close. No way that tower cost a million, more likely 60k plus install - seeing as it is so short and crane accessable, probably a total less than 100k. Figuring 2k for the cell carrier, another 2-4k for all the microwave, and another 1k for the rest, go with 7k a month in income - before taxes, land lease, etc.

When we drop a tower, it takes one third of the guy wires to see it drop. And we drop a tower every six months or so.

Guyed versus self supporting? Lots of variables to consider when you do that, such as loading, space available, etc. It is not so simple to say replace all guyed towers with self supporters.

Now, this being a short tower, if there is ground space available, I would certainly try to put up a STOUT self supporter, but I suspect land is at a premium up there.

 

[commstar]

I don't think the park has a curfew (not yet anyway), so you can hike it after the gates are locked.

Regional Parks Ordinance 38 § 906: curfew is 2200-0500 unless otherwise posted or allowed by permit.

 

[mibzzer15]

Antenna Owner Information


Ownership Info
Rep
Company: American Towers, LLC.
Contact: Not Recorded
Phone: (678)265-6730
Email: faa-fcc@americantower.com
Attn: FAA FCC
Address: 10 Presidential Way
Woburn, MA, 01801
Owner
Company: American Towers, LLC.
Contact: Not Recorded
Phone: (678)265-6730
Email: faa-fcc@americantower.com
Attn: Regulatory Compliance FAA FCC
Address: 10 Presidential Way
Woburn, MA, 01801

Tower Characteristics
Registration #: 1010559
Latitude: 37.8158
Longitude: -122.0624
Structure Type: Tower
Status: Constructed
Date Constructed: 07/01/1986
Ground Elev: 2012.2 feet
Height Of Structure: 200.1 feet
Overall Height: 2222.2 feet
Structure Address: Off of Bollinger Canyon Rd (Rocky Ridge #8239)
Moraga, CA

History
Purpose Status Date Addnl Info
New Reg Granted 03/31/1997
---
Owner Change Granted 07/22/1999
Rep Dow, Lohnes & Albertson, PLLC
Owner AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION
Owner Change Granted 02/14/2001
Owner American Tower, L.P.
Rep
Adm Update Granted 07/17/2001
---
Adm Update Granted 07/17/2001
---
Adm Update Granted 05/14/2002
---
Owner Change Granted 01/06/2003
Rep American Towers, Inc.
Owner American Towers, Inc.
Modification Granted 06/02/2003
---
Constructed Granted 06/02/2003
---
Modification Granted 03/22/2004
---
Constructed Granted 03/22/2004
---
Modification Granted 11/04/2004
---
Constructed Granted 11/04/2004
---
Modification Granted 07/15/2005
---
Constructed Granted 07/15/2005
---
Constructed Granted 09/23/2005
---
Modification Granted 09/23/2005
---
Adm Update Granted 01/10/2006
---
Owner Change Granted 10/03/2007
Owner American Towers, Inc.
Rep American Towers, Inc.
Modification Granted 04/11/2010
---
Constructed Granted 04/11/2010
---
Modification Granted 06/11/2010
---
Constructed Granted 06/11/2010
---
Modification Granted 02/09/2012
---
Constructed Granted 02/09/2012
---
Owner Change Granted 01/15/2013
Rep American Towers, LLC.
Assignor American Towers, LLC.
Owner American Towers, LLC.


Antennas on Tower


Cook Telecom, Inc. NA 2.68 miles
Alameda Contra Costa County Transit Dist 151 feet 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of 200 feet 2.68 miles
Tsr Wireless Llc NA 2.68 miles
Frenzel Iii, Otto N 210 feet 2.68 miles
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District 210 feet 2.66 miles
Pacific Gas And Electric Company 210 feet 2.66 miles
Kuvs License Partnership, G.p. 210 feet 2.66 miles
Contra Costa, County Of 210 feet 2.66 miles
Metropolitan Area Networks, Inc. 210 feet 2.66 miles
Ams Spectrum Holdings, Llc NA 2.68 miles
Sky Way Networks, Llc 200 feet 2.68 miles
Kdtv License Partnership, G.p. 210 feet 2.66 miles
Contra Costa, County Of NA 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of NA 2.68 miles
Pacific Gas And Electric Company NA 2.68 miles
Alameda Contra Costa County Transit Dist 200 feet 2.68 miles
Pacific Gas And Electric Company 200 feet 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of NA 2.68 miles
East Bay Regional Park District 89 feet 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of 200 feet 2.68 miles
Ameritech Mobile Services, Inc. 220 feet 2.68 miles
Ams Spectrum Holdings, Llc NA 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of 200 feet 2.68 miles
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District 100 feet 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of NA 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of 220 feet 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of 200 feet 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of 200 feet 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of NA 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of 200 feet 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of 220 feet 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of NA 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of 200 feet 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of 200 feet 2.68 miles
Alameda Contra Costa County Transit Dist 200 feet 2.68 miles
Pacific Gas And Electric Company 200 feet 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of NA 2.68 miles
Contra Costa, County Of NA 2.68 miles
Clearwire Spectrum Holdings Iii Llc 210 feet 2.66 miles
Alarmnet Inc 233 feet 2.68 miles
Customtronics 114 feet 2.68 miles
East Bay Municipal Utility District 200 feet 2.66 miles
East Bay Municipal Utility District (ebmud) 200 feet 2.66 miles
East Bay Regional Park District 55 feet 2.66 miles
Union Oil Company Of California 200 feet 2.68 miles
Pacific Gas And Electric Company 200 feet 2.68 miles
Mobilecomm Of The West, Inc. NA 2.68 miles
East Bay Regional Park District NA 2.68 miles
Bay Alarm Company 210 feet 2.68 miles
Gte Mobilnet Of California Limited Partnership 200 feet 2.68 miles
Wang Communications, Inc. 80 feet 2.68 miles

 

[MtnBiker2005]

^
ASR Registration: 1010559
http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/AsrSearch/asrRegistration.jsp?regKey=114739

 

[K6CDO]

mmckenna has it pretty close. No way that tower cost a million, more likely 60k plus install - seeing as it is so short and crane accessable, probably a total less than 100k. Figuring 2k for the cell carrier, another 2-4k for all the microwave, and another 1k for the rest, go with 7k a month in income - before taxes, land lease, etc.

When we drop a tower, it takes one third of the guy wires to see it drop. And we drop a tower every six months or so.

Guyed versus self supporting? Lots of variables to consider when you do that, such as loading, space available, etc. It is not so simple to say replace all guyed towers with self supporters.

Now, this being a short tower, if there is ground space available, I would certainly try to put up a STOUT self supporter, but I suspect land is at a premium up there.

While that 200' tower may have been $60K in material costs in 1986, as you note the installation was extra. Today, the total project cost (removal of the destroyed tower, design engineering, permits, fabrication and installation) of a new 200' tower that meets current ANSI standards (TIA-222-G, Seismic Zone 4, 120 MPH winds, etc. with the loading that was on the tower that fell) may well be $1M by the time the tower is replaced.

 

[mmckenna]

While that 200' tower may have been $60K in material costs in 1986, as you note the installation was extra. Today, the total project cost (removal of the destroyed tower, design engineering, permits, fabrication and installation) of a new 200' tower that meets current ANSI standards (TIA-222-G, Seismic Zone 4, 120 MPH winds, etc. with the loading that was on the tower that fell) may well be $1M by the time the tower is replaced.

Valid points, but still, 1 million is a high.
Scrap metal costs, including a lot of copper, will drive the costs down.
Design, engineering and permits are usually canned solutions from the manufacturer. Stamped engineering drawings for towers are provided by the manufacturers, and that speeds the process.
Keep in mind that American Tower does this stuff for a living. It's not like some ham operator putting a tower in his backyard.

Also, insurance is a wonderful thing....