National Fire Plan Success Story
Everglades National Park Fire Communications Team
Everglades National Park, Florida
National Fire Plan - Accountability
2008
A strong fire management program needs to be able to communicate its plans and actions to internal and external audiences. The National Park Service has positions at the regional and national level to provide assistance and guidance for this, however many parks do not have the need or resources for a dedicated Fire Communication and Education Specialist. This is the case at Everglades National Park.
Communications has been identified in the park’s Fire Management Plan as an important element to the Fire Management Program. Work in this area had been ongoing, but was piecemeal and not coordinated. The staff members who were doing collateral duties with communications and outreach projects were recently identified and formed the Everglades Fire Communications Team. The function of the team is to coordinate communication and outreach projects so that they are accomplished in the most effective and efficient way. Meeting once a month and discussing projects allows the team members to share knowledge, identify communications requests and needs, and avoid "reinventing the wheel."
Members of the Fire Communications Team are from both fire operations and fire science disciplines. The team works closely with the entire fire management staff on developing messages and projects. There is great support from the upper level fire managers at the park, as well as the Communication and Education Specialists at the regional and national offices for this team. The ream also maintains good relationships with the public affairs, environmental education, and interpretation staffs at the park.
The Everglades Fire Communications Team can serve as a model to other fire programs for communications and outreach work that do not have the resources to dedicate an entire position to the field.
Contact: Rick Anderson, Fire Management Officer, (305) 242-7853.