KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O show forced off-air after fire alarm evacuation
KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O show was forced off the air for 15 minutes on Thursday after fire crews arrived.
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A false fire alarm caused panic for three radio stations in North Ryde on Thursday morning.
Fire crews were called to KIIS studios, which is home to the Kyle and Jackie O show, after an alarm went off forcing dozens of staff to evacuate while live on-air.
Other stations including The Edge 96.1 with Mike E and Emma and WSFM’s Jonesy and Amanda were also forced to evacuate the building.
KIIS radio host Kyle Sandilands told listeners “I can smell something burning” before reluctantly leaving the building and later joked that the incident may have been caused by “The Taliban”.
His co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson was broadcasting remotely from her Woollahra home when the incident occurred.
“I can’t control the buttons, I can’t do anything. I’m remote, I have no control over playing music, ads, nothing,” she said.
Sporting masks, Sandilands and other radio hosts were forced to wait outside on the pavement for several minutes as fire crews investigated.
The Kyle and Jackie O show ran ads and music for close to 15 minutes before returning to the airwaves.
“The fire brigade actually don’t know what it was from, they’re still in the building figuring it out but there is no fire,” the show’s executive producer Sonia Jahshan said.
In 2015, a similar incident was caused by a faulty smoke detector inside the KIIS building, with US singer Ne-Yo forced to cut his live interview short and evacuate.
In New South Wales, fines for false alarm call-outs are $1,600.
In 2019, false alarms cost taxpayers more than $100 million, with the vast majority of call-outs made to fire crews by NSW automatic alarm systems being accidentally sparked by non-emergencies like burnt toast.
$14k a clip: NSW YouTube stars making more than you
YouTube stars in NSW are raking in thousands of dollars per video but it’s what they do in their clips that will drive traditional workers mad. Check out the rich list.
Glamming it up for a return to the racecourse
The first official racing carnival featuring the new $46.6m WINX stand at Randwick Racecourse is kicking off, with model and new mum Ksenija Lukich among those dressing up for the occasion.