CAL Fire Social Media Networking

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CAL FIRE is winning statewide awards for its use of social media.  Recently CAL FIRE/San Diego Fire Authority's Public Information Officers implemented the use of Skype to give live interviews to the media, eliminating the need for reporters to travel to the scene of incidents and enhancing the speed with which the public can access information about local emergencies.

Skype is a free chat program that allows users to talk to one another over the internet using audio and video.  CAL FIRE Public Information Officer and Battalion Chief Nick Schuler explains, "Basically what happens is I could be driving down the road and pull up to the scene of a fire and I have my Toughbook up and running and the media can call in.  I simply answer the phone through Skype, and now I have the media."

CAL FIRE's PIO's can give live interviews to the media through Skype, and are able to take their Toughbooks out of their vehicles to show audiences a 360 degree panoramic view of the incident.

Skype is a free downloadable program and is helpful in disseminating information because in some cases media outlets are unable to send a reporter to the scene of an emergency or event, and Skype allows them to capture the story and share it with citizens.  It also allows CAL FIRE and the media to pass along information about emergencies to the public more quickly.

CAL FIRE/San Diego Fire Authority's Battalion Chief Nick Schuler and Captain Mike Mohler came up with the idea to use Skype after realizing it is being used nationally by CNN and the Oprah Winfrey Show.  They saw the potential of how it could be used in the fire service to help inform the public about incidents in their communities.  CAL FIRE has practiced using it with several members of the media but have not had the opportunity to use it in the field during a live fire yet, since they have just recently implemented the program.

CAL FIRE also recently received a grant that allowed them to purchase six Toughbooks, which the Public Information Officers are able to use.  Skype allows them to conduct multiple interviews at the same time, either from their desks or out in the field.

Chief Schuler says of the new program, "When we have the opportunity to enhance our department and enhance our communication with the public and we can do it at no cost, that really benefits us and it benefits the people we serve."

In addition to Skype, CAL FIRE uses many other social networking platforms to relay information to the media and the public, including Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter.  Visit www.fire.ca.gov for links to all of CAL FIRE's social networking pages.


Author:Deanne Goodman - FDNNTV.com