|
|
|
|
Media learns how to properly face, report on wildfires |
|
|
Thursday, 13 March 2008 |
By Stacey Powells and Lara Kirkner
Mammoth Times Staff Writers
“If the embers are flying in your face then you are at the wrong end of the fire.” —U.S. Forest Service Fire Prevention Specialist Andrew Kong
 Lara Kirkner had 25 seconds to get into her fire shelter or else her life could be compromisedMAMMOTH TIMES PHOTOS/SUSAN MORNING
Representatives from KSRW, the Inyo Register, KMMT/KRHV and Mammoth Times, were given a three-hour lesson on what to do and what not to do should they find themselves covering a wildland fire in Inyo or Mono counties.
U.S. Forest Service Fire Prevention Specialist Andrew Kong made it clear that safety is the first priority when covering a fire. “We've had media trying to cover a story while standing in the middle of a fuel spill,” Kong said. “People also show up to cover fires wearing shorts and T-shirts. That's not a good idea when there are embers flying everywhere.”
Kong emphasized that media should never find themselves at the head of a fire. “If the embers are flying in your face then you are at the wrong end of the fire,” Kong said. “Many people do what we call 'going toward the glow.' Media personnel have to be aware of their surroundings. They need to know how they got to the position they are in and how to get out. If media are leaving their vehicles to take photos of the fire, they need to leave their car windows rolled up, keys in the ignition and doors unlocked in case they need to make a quick retreat.”
CalFire's Rodger Thompson, Assistant Chief of the Owens Valley Division, went over the basics of who actually pays for a fire when it crosses the boundaries between lands owned by the BLM, U.S. Forest Service, county government and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). “The most important thing to remember is that when we get called out on a fire, we send the resources out first and deal with who is footing the bill afterwards,” Thompson said. “We do what is called the 'Balancing of Acres.' To be more efficient we all pool our resources during a wildland fire and sort out the jurisdictions later on.”
If a wildland fire is burning on privately held land, then the state is responsible for getting resources out to the fire.
The Inyo Complex fire burned throughout all the jurisdictions and the costs were proportioned among the USFS, BLM and the CalFire when all was said and done.
The LADWP also contributes resources when there is a wildland fire. “The DWP supplies water pumps, water tenders and graders when we have a fire and need the extra resources,” Thompson said, “and they do this at no cost to us.”
There is a hierarchy that is set in place at the beginning of a wildfire. The Incident Command System (ICS) is used on the fire line and depending upon the size of the incident, the “IC” or Incident Commander may have an information officer available to assist the media with incident access and information.
In California, state law allows news media with credentials access to fires, floods, earthquakes, explosions, accidents, etc. unless their activities prevent law enforcement and other emergency officials from doing their jobs. To ensure consistent application of the law during emergency situations the following guidelines apply:
—Credentialed news media representatives will not be denied access to National Forest System Lands unless by their presence they are compromising the safety of employees, impeding the response of emergency equipment or personnel, or impeding the investigation of the incident
—News media representatives are required to present proper press credentials to agency officials prior to accessing areas closed to the general public.
—It is strongly recommended that incident personnel provide qualified media escorts. In certain situations, however, this may not be possible and credentialed news media should not be denied access if they do not have an escort, unless their presence results in compromising firefighter safety.
—While it is not required for access, it is strongly recommended that all news media have and wear personal protective equipment and be given a safety briefing.
—Media using fixed or rotary aircraft must follow FAA regulations for closures or restrictions of airspace over incidents.
Each media representative at the orientation had to do a hands-on practice session regarding how to use a fire shelter, which is essentially a fireproof tent that can mean the difference between life and death if someone finds him/herself surrounded by the fire. “This is used as a last resort,” said Paul Myers, Forest Service Fire Prevention Technician. “It is extremely important to protect your lungs and airways as well as keeping your feet toward the fire when in the fire shelter.”
Helmet colors and engine colors are a key indicator of whom to go to when needing information about a fire. Fire officials on the top end of the food chain usually have white helmets. Seasonal firefighters have yellow helmets, and orange helmets are worn by prisoners who are brought out to help contain a fire.
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 21 March 2008 )
|
|
|
|
