Bushfires rage, radio reacts

Staff Writer

With the devastation of the bushfires that have raged across NSW over the last 24 hours, local radio has gone into action. Here are just a few examples.

At SCA in Newcastle, both NXFM and KOFM were live all night giving updates and news to local residents.

NXFM pulled out of networking at 3pm yesterday to ensure they were ready to update as things changed.

Their news department provided bulletins every 20 minutes on both NXFM and KOFM, and both breakfast shows started on air at 4 o'clock this morning.

Both stations also used their Facebook page to pass on information and lots of compelling pictures – see NXFM, KOFM

Meanwhile on the Central Coast, dmg's Star 104.5 also went into action.

Dan Taylor stayed on his drive show for an extra 2 hours, their PD Dan King went on-air from 9.30pm until 1am, speaking with RFS reps and updating locals.

Glen Lauder from dmg Sydney filed news updates during the evening.

Star 104.5 opened the phones to hear local stories and chat to those in traffic or otherwise affected.

They setup links on their website to be a single source for locals to get the info they need. RFS hotline, websites, even apps to use for more information.

ATN increased traffic reports with extra hourly updates on road closures.

The Star 104.5 Facebook page has pics and information including evacuation locations.

PD Dan King says: "We are the only 24 hour live and local radio station in this market, we take that opportunity very seriously when it comes to the community. We will drop format to keep our locals safe, I think that is expected and right."

Here's a promo Star 104.5 are running today :-
https://radiotoday.com.au/music/StarBushfires.mp3
or hear it here

We also hear that Sea FM and 2GO covered the events last night with live jocks staying on-air all night until the breakfast shows took over.

ACD Mike Duncan says, "we, like our Newcastle mates were also live, dropping networking and operating around the clock. The fires in the northern Wyong shire were some of the worst we’ve seen here, covering a very wide area and displacing many from their homes, and closing major roads."

Here's a 2GO promo they are running today :-
https://radiotoday.com.au/music/2GOfire.mp3
or hear it here

A massive pat on the back to all the radio stations in the impacted area's who are going above and beyond to get vital news to their listeners.

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