April Fool’s Day prank upsets Milton residents.

April 1, 1980

WNAC closes its newscast with a story describing a volcanic eruption of the Great Blue Hill. The accompanying video includes footage of a previous eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington state. Despite the fact that story ends with reporter Jan Harrison holding up a sign that says “April Fool,” police and civil defense authorities receive more than a hundred calls from alarmed citizens and some reputedly flee their homes. The station subsequently apologizes for the story.

Sources
  • Knopf, Terry Ann