Quick thinking and action by a television operator and staff members averted what could have been a major disaster at the privately owned HJ Radio and TV in Georgetown.
The station’s broadcast tower was hit by a lightning strike which ignited a fire in the main control room for the television studio.
The operator quickly dashed for a bucket of water and the fire extinguisher and was able to put out the blaze as other staff members quickly moved equipment to safety as the fire service was summoned.
By the time the Fire Service arrived at the scene, the situation was already under control although smoke had already filled the television broadcast studio.
Mid-morning radio host, Feliz Robertson, was in the middle of her Hangout Programme when the lightning strike and fire forced her off air. She said she heard a loud sound coming from the back of the building just before the power supply went dead.
Company Director, Kerwin Bollers, said there were no injuries and an assessment of the damages is currently underway. He could not say how soon the stations would be back on air but promised that once the damages would have been assessed, every effort will be made to get the stations back on air at the soonest possible time.
The radio and tv station are the leading stations in Georgetown, with the radio station being host to many of the top radio programmes in the country.
Over the past two years, thunderstorms and lightning strikes have also affected a number of other radio and television stations in the Georgetown area.
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