Fire knocks off Jack FM and BBC Bristol

A suspected arson attack this morning at a transmitter site in Bristol has meant the BBC local radio station for the city and Jack FM have both been off the air.

Cables connecting transmission equipment to aerials were badly damaged in the blaze at the site on East Dundry Lane in the south of Bristol.

The mast broadcasts BBC Radio Bristol on 94.9 FM and Jack FM on 106.5 FM. It’s also used for mobile communications systems, including for the fire service. Radio Bristol’s Weston-super-Mare transmitter has also been off air because it broadcasts a relay of the Dundry TX. The station’s Bath transmitter has been unaffected along with medium wave and DAB broadcasts.

Celador’s Breeze 107.2 FM signal in Bristol has been unaffected, while Jack has also continued on air on DAB.

An Avon Fire and Rescue Service spokesman told the BBC that firefighters were called to the site just after 3am this morning. “The damage was confined to the base of the mast but as there was evidence the fire was deliberate, police were called,” he said.

A statement on the Jack FM Bristol website says: “Due to technical problems beyond our control JACK fm is currently off air on 106.5 FM. You can still listen on DAB radio or by clicking the link above. We are making the techies work as hard as they can to resume normal service as soon as possible, whilst we kick back, relax and drink tea and listen to our DAB radio.”