National Fire Plan Success Story
Interagency Group Comes Together to Support Local Media on Fire Safety
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, California
National Fire Plan - Community Assistance
2008
Members from the Shasta County Fire Prevention Officers Association, representing all of the local fire agencies in Shasta County came together for a Media Safety Training Event on May 15, 2008. Members included Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, City of Redding, Anderson Fire Protection District, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), and the National Park Service. Members of the local media came to the event, including newspaper, television, and radio. The event provided the different government agencies an opportunity to meet with the local media before a wildfire event occurs. Each agency gave an overview of their organization and introduced their key contacts. Presentations were made on the Incident Command System, Information Officers, fireline safety, personal protection equipment, and fire behavior.
The Prevention Officers Association started doing this event about five years ago to meet with the local media and answer questions and concerns before an incident occurred. Redding has a large turn over in the media field, as reporters and camera folks start their careers in Redding, gain experience, and then move on to larger cities. This event has helped all of the agencies have a good and safe working relationship with the local media.
When agencies, like the Shasta County Prevention Officers Association, come together and present a united front so much can get accomplished. The National Park Service is proud to work with our local partners.
Contact: Carol Jandrall, Fire Communication and Education Specialist, (530) 242-3438.