Today we broadcasted our first-ever Emergency Alert across all ZBS Radio stations.

When the alert was activated, all regular programming was automatically interrupted. Music, shows, and all other audio were immediately cut off to ensure listeners received the emergency message without delay. The system then played the official UK Emergency Alert attention tone, followed by the emergency announcement in both English and Welsh, before normal broadcasting resumed.

What Was the Alert About?

The alert, issued by the UK Government, warned of a very high risk of wildfires across the United Kingdom.

The message advised residents, landowners and visitors not to undertake any activity that could start a fire, including using:

• Disposable barbecues

• Fire pits

• Garden incinerators

• Fireworks

It also reminded the public that even a small flame can rapidly develop into a major wildfire, placing lives, homes, businesses and emergency responders at risk. Listeners were advised to report signs of fire immediately by calling 999 and to follow official Government updates for further information.

A Successful First Broadcast

Although this was the very first Emergency Alert ever transmitted by ZBS Radio, the broadcast was a complete success.

Despite the system never having been tested live on the station before, the alert performed exactly as intended. Programming was interrupted instantly, the emergency tone and bilingual announcement were broadcast correctly, and the station returned to normal operation once the alert had concluded.

This successful activation demonstrates that ZBS Radio is capable of delivering urgent public safety information quickly and reliably whenever it is required.

Keeping Listeners Informed

At ZBS Radio, the safety of our listeners remains a priority. While we hope emergency alerts are rarely needed, today's successful broadcast shows that our systems are ready to deliver important information whenever official guidance needs to reach the public.

We would like to thank our listeners for their understanding during the interruption to normal programming. Emergency alerts are designed to provide critical information that helps keep communities safe, and we are proud that ZBS Radio was able to play its part in delivering that message.