On April 1, 1980, WNAC-TV in Boston concluded its news broadcast with a shocking bulletin. The station claimed that Great Blue Hill was erupting, launching lava and ash into the air.
The report included dramatic footage of an actual eruption from Mount St. Helens, along with remarks edited from President Jimmy Carter and Governor Edward J. King. According to the report, the supposed eruption was caused by a geological chain reaction linked to the recent activity in Washington state.
The prank quickly escalated beyond the intended humor. Residents in Milton, Massachusetts, reacted with alarm, with some fleeing their homes. The local police department received over a hundred calls from worried citizens seeking confirmation about the disastrous report.
Many sought guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Civil Defense, anxious about whether they should evacuate. The chaos didn't stop there; WNAC-TV was flooded with irate calls from viewers who were outraged by the misleading bulletin.
By the end of the day, the station issued an apology during the late news broadcast. However, the repercussions didn't end there for Homer Cilley, the executive producer of the 6 pm news, who was fired for his poor judgment in airing the segment. The incident highlighted the fine line between humor and responsibility in broadcasting.
In an unexpected twist, Cilley's termination was a stark reminder of how a simple prank could spiral into a genuine crisis.
