If you were wondering what happened to Triple R last night, you need only ask the driver of the car that crashed into a fire hydrant near the Melbourne community station’s studios last night.
As Broadsheet Melbourne reports, the driver lost control of their car and hit a fire hydrant outside the station’s Brunswick East studios, taking the station off air for several hours.
Broadsheet staffer Emily Naismith was live on air with co-host Ben Birchall when the crash occurred shortly before 8pm last night.
“We were in the studio and I’m not exactly sure what happened, but a car hit a fire hydrant, and possibly another car, and water started pouring into the studio,” Naismith told Broadsheet.
“The hydrant has completely burst off at the ground and water is shooting two or three stories into the air. I don’t think anyone’s seriously hurt, but it’s hard to tell at this stage.”
The car reportedly hit Naismith and Birchall’s bikes, which were parked outside the station, before crashing into the hydrant and coming to a stop about 30 metres away.
“I went to move our bikes but they’re right near the fire hydrant,” said. “The car destroyed the pole [our bikes] were locked to, water’s pouring out of the ground and they’ve had to turn the power off at Triple R. It might be off for six hours.”
And @3RRRFM is now without power. Have to wait for the water to be turned off and stuff dries out. pic.twitter.com/i9dMZEU2JH
— Brett Boxcutter (@bbox) January 19, 2016
Yep- we are off air. We're working on it and will keep you updated…perhaps we'll build an arc?? https://t.co/6dD0Sl016h
— Triple R FM (@3RRRFM) January 19, 2016
Huge thanks to the hard working crew worked through the night to get us back on air! Programs back to normal & office is closed. Stay tuned
— Triple R FM (@3RRRFM) January 19, 2016
The hydrant shot water into the air for more than half an hour, covering Nicholson St in 20 centimetres of water. According to the Herald Sun, crews took just over an hour to contain the water.
Making matters even more bizarre, less than 24 hour after Triple R flooded, Broadsheet reports that fellow Melbourne community radio station PBS FM has lost power after a nearby power-line exploded, taking the station off air.
Station Manager Adrian Basso reportedly spotted a fire atop an electricity pole across the road from the station’s entrance just before 10am before witnessing the power line exploding and crashing down onto other lines.
Basso isn’t sure if any permanent damage occurred and the station’s broadcast technician, Bill Runting, who also works at Triple R, is still assessing the situation. Luckily, PBS managed to get ahold of a power generator and get back on air.
