Fire at a Bilsdale TV Mast

Up to a million users are still without TV and radio after a fire at Bilsdale transmitting centre as fire services remain at the scene of the incident to “bring it to a conclusion”.
Black smoke could be seen billowing out from the site yesterday afternoon as North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene.
A statement issued by the service last night said: “We are currently in attendance tacking a fire at Bilsdale transmitting centre which includes Bilsdale mast.

“We currently have six fire appliances and our mobile water bowser as well as command and control assets in attendance.”

The TV mast is primarily used for radio and television transmission and is among the most powerful in the UK.
In an update provided by the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service the fire had been extinguished but a 300-metre exclusion zone had been set up.

The service will be working on site today with Arqiva, the site operators, to “bring the incident to a safe conclusion.”

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “The initial call came at 13:19 from an engineer working at the transmitter, stating that he believed the mast was on fire due to smoke coming from below the first stay level (approximately 50 – 60 metres up)

“Calls were also received from members of the public who could see the smoke from some distance.
“North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service worked to control the fire in difficult circumstances and extinguished a fire in a single-storey stone building and a 315ft transmitter mast”

A spokesperson for Freeview said: “Due to the fire at Bilsdale transmitter viewers in the North East England may see disruption to services overnight.

“If you have been affected you can also watch Freeview on some connected Freeview Play TV’s and also via our mobile app or on a web browser via our online TV Guide.”

Freeview has said there is no need to retune your TV as services will be restored once the problem has been fixed.
BBC Sport Tees tweeted this morning:
“Tonight’s Blackpool versus Middlesbrough match in the League Cup will be broadcast on DAB in most areas.
“We’re currently off-are on FM following the fire at the Bilsdale transmitter.
“We are unable to broadcast the game on BBCsounds and online due to right restrictions.”

Source: The Northern Echo