Blinding Lights Are Not Permanent

La Mirada~ Chances are, if you live in Southern California you have noticed it.

Chances are, if you live in the La Mirada area, you can't help but notice it.

The KFI Tower-an iconic monument in La Mirada since 1948-has been running amuck lately, with high intensity, almost blinding, strobe lights blinking, that can be seen throughout the metropolitan basin. Normally the bright lights or on only during the day, and the red ones at night.

We have received numerous emails here at the La Mirada Blog from residents; most expressing the lights are way to bright.

Bob Cymbolin wrote us: "This thing is way too bright and imposing...and it is constantly flashing. Is there any way to stop it? Everyone wants safety, but this high intensity flashing day and night is way overboard. You can see it for miles across the southland."

The original tower collapsed after a single engine plane crashed into it in 2004, killing Jim and Mary Ghosoph, who were traveling to Fullerton Airport from El Monte.  In 2008, a new tower was constructed with new high intensity red flashing lights and other safety upgrades.

But, about five days ago, the blinking red lights on the tower suddenly turned into a bright, white strobe-type light, catching many people by surprise.

Well, relax La Mirada. We are here to tell you the high intensity "lamps" you have been enduring lately, are not here to stay.

"Initial reports from KFI (Clear Channel Communications), are informing us that the lights are the result of a computer/equipment failure. The part needed to fix the problem is not readily available, therefore they have to order it," said Tom Robinson, La Mirada City Manager, during a phone call with the LM Blog.

"We anticipate the lighting on the tower going back to normal within a couple of weeks," he went on to say.

KFI, with its 50,000-watt power can be heard in most of the western United States, especially in the evening.