lornamatic

You can get updated news on the southern CA fires by listening in on the fire and police scanners from anywhere in the world. There are emergency streams for everywhere, from Santa Clarita to Malibu to San Diego. From what I can hear, the rescue teams are busting ass. These guys rock.

Here’s how to listen to the feeds:

1. Install the Teamspeak client. It works for Mac, Windows and Linux.

2. Follow the step by step instructions at Scannerbuff.

(here’s the short version: run Teamspeak, then choose Connection>Quick Connect. Enter a nickname. Use this server address: radio.scannerbuff.net:8767, and leave the rest blank.

Scannerbuff.net has a listing of other live streams. )

3. Brush up on your police codes: at radiolabs.com. Bonus points if you know morse code.

4. Log out when you’re done and don’t hog bandwidth. People post these streams from their own scanners as a really great public service, so please don’t abuse it!

Note, you can also try publicsafetyfeeds.com though I find Teamspeak has better coverage for LA County.