by Paige Maguire, Austinist

For the third time in two years, community based public radio station KOOP 91.7 fm has suffered a studio fire that has put a halt to programming.

Austin Fire Department's community outreach director has indicated that Sunday's fire caused about $100,000 in structural damages and $200,000 in content damages. The source of the fire is unknown and under investigation at this time.

KOOP's first fire in 2006 was caused by a lit cigarette, and the second began in a neighboring building. In December 2006, the station moved to a new facility on Airport Blvd. and had been flame-free, until now.

The Austin community will miss the station's progressive programming (and Jamaican gold on Sundays) until the repairs (estimated now by Kim McCarson, the station's executive director, as being a few weeks worth) are complete. Until then, stay tuned for ways you can support the station during this upsetting period of silence.

For more information, and (imminently) ways you can help, visit KOOP.org.