On Thursday, BBC Radio 2 experienced an unprecedented interruption, going off air for the first time in two decades due to a fire alarm incident at its Broadcasting House facility near Oxford Street. The alarm, which prompted a swift evacuation of the building, occurred during the broadcast of Jeremy Vine's afternoon show.
As the alarm sounded, listeners could hear the automated voice announcing the emergency, prompting Vine to inform the audience that all staff members were required to vacate the premises. In an effort to keep listeners engaged while ensuring safety, the presenter announced he would play music in his absence; however, there was a brief period during which the station fell silent.
Upon returning to air, Vine explained the situation: “It's Radio 2 here. I do apologise, we did just have a proper fire alarm here. There wasn't a fire but we had the thing that I've not had in 20 years where not just one light goes off but two. The orange light which means there could be a fire and then the red light and then the announcement in the studio which looked as if there was one,” he said. He continued by mentioning the staff had stood outside in sunny weather while awaiting further information, confirming there was no fire and thus stating, “Because there's no fire we are going to cancel the item we were doing on cremation.”
The unusual occurrence prompted a flurry of reactions on social media, particularly on the platform X, where listeners expressed their astonishment at the unexpected dead air. One user remarked, “Wow.. Actual dead air live on BBC Radio 2. Fire alarm goes off at the studios during Jeremy Vine slot and the building's been evacuated by the guess of it.. Never heard a radio station go silent like that before and now it seems like it's on auto-pilot.”
The incident served as a stark reminder of the protocols in place for emergencies in broadcasting environments, highlighting the importance of safety in live radio settings.
Source: Noah Wire Services