LOS ANGELES — In response to devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County, Tesla has donated several Cybertrucks to assist the Altadena station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, KRON reported.
The trucks will serve as battery banks to provide backup power and free Wi-Fi through Starlink connectivity, aiding residents and first responders impacted by power outages caused by the Eaton Fire, according to the report.
“This is essential for our public information officers,” Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Adam Van Gerpen told KCAL. “And for our incident commanders, even for our strike teams who are out there trying to communicate. We have radio communications, but this will enable cell phone and wireless communication.”
Altadena, located just north of Pasadena, has experienced widespread disruptions, including power outages and infrastructure damage. Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on X that the donated Cybertrucks will act as mobile base stations, providing essential services to affected areas, according to the report.
The Altadena Mountain Rescue Team confirmed that the vehicles would remain at the sheriff’s station until power is restored. Tesla also plans to send additional Cybertrucks to other fire-stricken areas in Los Angeles and Malibu. Musk noted that while the Cybertrucks themselves are not portable hotspots, the donated models are equipped with Starlink systems to deliver free Internet access to communities in need.
Musk acknowledged that the donation effort would delay some California Cybertruck deliveries but emphasized the priority of assisting those in the most affected regions.
“Apologies to those expecting Cybertruck deliveries in California over the next few days,” Musk wrote on X. “We need to use those trucks as mobile base stations to provide power to Starlink Internet terminals in areas of LA without connectivity.”
