NIFC News Releases
Media engagement
Interview Guidelines
- Ensure that the appropriate Public Information Officer or the local Public Affairs office is aware of media visits.
- Be prepared. Know the facts. Develop a few key messages and deliver them. Prepare responses to potential tough questions. If possible, talk to reporter beforehand to get an idea of subjects, direction, and slant of the interview.
- Be concise. Give simple answers (10-20 seconds), and when you’re done, be quiet. If you botch the answer, simply ask to start again.
- Be honest, personable, professional, presentable (remove sunglasses and hats).
- Look at the reporter, not the camera.
- Ensure media are escorted and wearing PPE when going to the fireline or hazardous sites.
- NEVER talk “off the record,” exaggerate, or try to be cute or funny.
- DON’T guess or speculate or say “no comment.”
- Either explain why you can’t answer the question or offer to track down the answer.
- DON’T disagree with the reporter. Instead, tactfully and immediately clarify and correct the information.
- DON’T speak for other agencies or offices.
- DON’T use jargon or acronyms.
More Resources:
- California Penal Code 409
- Community Notice
- Media Advisory (Sample)
- Media Access Laws
- Media Access to Forest Service Aircraft
- PIO 209 Daily Activity Report
- PIO Transition Form
- Preparing News Articles
- Road and Burn Out Advisory
- Safety and Risk Management, Red Book, Chapter 7
- Training and Qualifications for PIOs
Documentary and Series Producers Guide
The Documentary and Series Producers Guide is intended to provide basic information on the policies and processes followed by NIFC in considering proposals to use federal firefighting crews, incident management teams, and wildland fire equipment in a documentary film or television series production. The principles in this guide can be modified to better serve your specific needs.
Public outreach
- Drones and Wildfires Talking Points
- Getting a Job as a Seasonal Firefighter
- NIFC - A Place, A Mission: Brochure or Text
- NWCG Communication Planning
- Preparing for Wildland Fire brochure text or PDF brochure
- Prescribed Burns May Help Reduce U.S. Carbon Footprint
- Producer's Guide for TV and Film
- Tune in to Radio Discipline text or PDF
- When Tragedy Strikes Your Unit How Do You Prepare?
Prevention, Education and Mitigation links
- Fire Adapted Communities
- FireWise (NFPA)
- NWCG Communicator's Guide for Wildland Fire Management, Fire Education, Prevention, Mitigation
- Ready, Set, Go!
- Creating Defensible Space
- Defensible Space Brochure
- Defensible Space Messages
Fact Sheets
- Preparedness Level Spreadsheet
- Preparedness Level Background and TPs
- Preparedness Level Infographic
- Hotshots, Fire Shelters, and Thunderstorms General Talking Points
- Prescribed Fire Summary
- What is NIMO?
- Statistics
PSAs
Download PSAs Harrison Ford Did for Teton Interagency Fire in Wyoming
- PSA 1 – Cows
- PSA 2 – Dead Out Campfire
- PSA 3 – Defensible Space
- PSA 4 – Wyoming is Dry
- PSA 5 – Fires in Wyoming
- PSA 6 – Residents
- PSA 7 – Restrictions
- PSA 8 – The West
Zip Files:
Tool kits
Critical Incident communication Resources
Critical Incident Communications Guides
- Agency Administrator's Guide to Critical Incident Management
- When Tragedy Strikes Your Unit (and It Will) How Do You Prepare?
- Serious Accident Communication
- Incident Within an Incident Communication Plan
- Rockford Gray Crisis Communications White Paper
- Crisis Leadership and Crisis Communication
- A Resource Guide for Handling Firefighter Line-of-Duty Deaths
- Caring for Our Own, A Serious Accident and Fatality Support Guide
- Critical Incident News Releases Example
- Critical Incident Agency Leader Statements Example
Critical Incident Documents
- Agency Administrator's Guide to Critical Incident Management
- Critical Event Notification Process
- Incident Emergency Plan -Sample List
- Incident within an Incident Emergency Plan
