embarcadero center

On August 25, 1981, a construction crew punctured a 16-inch natural gas gas pipeline within a block of KCBS Radio's Embarcadero Center studios in San Francisco. The leak went on for hours, forcing the evacuation of 30,000 people--including everyone from the KCBS Radio newsroom and studios.

The next morning, the station had returned to its facilities. Al Hart is the station's lead anchor, joined by Ken Ackerman.  This episode ends with the regulat 8:06 AM feature "Beatcheck".

This audio is from a collection of radio airchecks assembled by the late Bay Area radio engineer Mike Schweizer.

On August 25, 1981, a construction crew punctured a 16-inch natural gas gas pipeline within a block of KCBS Radio's Embarcadero Center studios in San Francisco. The leak went on for hours, forcing the evacuation of 30,000 people--including everyone from the KCBS Radio newsroom and studios. 

The next morning, the station had returned to its facilities but abandoned the normal format for extended coverage of the story. Al Hart anchors this first hour of that coverage.
This audio is from a collection of radio airchecks assembled by the late Bay Area radio engineer Mike Schweizer.

On August 25, 1981, a construction crew punctured a 16-inch natural gas gas pipeline within a block of KCBS Radio's Embarcadero Center studios in San Francisco. The leak went on for hours, forcing the evacuation of 30,000 people--including everyone from the KCBS Radio newsroom and studios.

The next morning, the station had returned to its facilities. Al Hart is the station's lead anchor, joined by Ken Ackerman. Chris Brecher is the traffic anchor. Reporters include Jerry Wilcox, Wilson van Alst, and Charlie Seraphin
This audio is from a collection of radio airchecks assembled by the late Bay Area radio engineer Mike Schweizer.

On August 25, 1981, a construction crew punctured a 16-inch natural gas gas pipeline within a block of KCBS Radio's Embarcadero Center studios in San Francisco. The leak went on for hours, forcing the evacuation of 30,000 people--including everyone from the KCBS Radio newsroom and studios. This edited version of live coverage reveals the challenges facing the broadcast team.