January 10, 2025: T-Mobile and SpaceX’s Starlink have activated satellite texting for those impacted by the South California wildfires.

The telecommunications company and Elon Musk’s satellite constellation firm are doing their bit to help the hundreds of thousands of residents who have been forced to evacuate their homes across Los Angeles due to the ravaging wildfires with wireless emergency alerts and SMS for contacting 911 in place.The mobile carrier said in a statement: “Today T-Mobile and Starlink opened up T-Mobile Starlink Direct-to-Cellular service over impacted areas of Southern California to deliver wireless emergency alerts and SMS and enable 911 texting.

“While SpaceX’s direct-to-cell constellation has not been fully deployed, we are once again temporarily making this early test version available for those who need it most.”

T-Mobile has “restored roughly half of the sites impacted by commercial power loss”, including in Altadena, Duarte, Calabasas, Malibu, Fillmore and Agoura Hills.It will continue to “deploy and refuel portable generators to sites until commercial power is restored.”

The satellite service was previously used during 2024’s Hurricanes Milton and Helene in the US.

President Joe Biden declared a major disaster.

He wrote on X: “Over 100,000 people have been ordered to evacuate communities impacted by the Southern California wildfires.

“At least two people have been killed. And many more are injured — including firefighters. It’s devastating. To the residents of Southern California: We are with you.”