PIO Jennifer Myslivy and Idaho Governor Butch Otter Elk Fire, Boise National Forest, Idaho, 2013 This webinar will begin at 11:00 a.m. mountain time You must dial in to the conference call to receive audio Toll-Free Phone Number: (866) Participant Passcode: If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please click on Q&A on the toolbar at the top of your screen, write a message in the box that says Type a question for the presenter and click Ask, we will try our best to assist you. Or Jennifer Jones at or call her at (208) U.S. Forest Service 2014 Fire Communications

Jennifer Jones Public Affairs Specialist U.S. Forest Service, Washington Office Fire and Aviation Management National Interagency Fire Center Boise, Idaho

Agenda/Housekeeping U.S. Forest Service 2014 Incident Communications Guidance U.S. Forest Service National Fire Desk Overview InciWeb Update Incident Notification Program on the Slide Fire National Photo and Video Contracts Commercial Film Projects Questions and Answers Beaver Creek Fire, Sawtooth National Forest Idaho, 2013

U.S. Forest Service 2014 Incident Communications Guidance Available online at The U.S. Forest Service (FS) local unit is responsible for the content of fire communications during and after a fire. Information about fires of interest to the news media, elected officials, senior FS and U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) leadership, and other important stakeholders should be posted on InciWeb as soon as possible after the incident begins. When a fire of interest occurs in your area, regardless of which agency has jurisdiction over it, notify the National Fire Desk and/or Jennifer Jones at NIFC ASAP NIFC Fire Season Themes, FS Key Messages and other PIO information and training resources are available in the 2014 Incident Communications Toolkit on the NIFC PIO Bulletin BoardNIFC PIO Bulletin Board PIOs working on fires on National Forest System lands are authorized to provide information and interviews to all news media about the incident only. All other news media inquiries are to be referred to the local Forest Public Affairs staff. When a VIP visit is scheduled or expected on an incident, or occurs by surprise, please notify the WO Office of Communications ASAP. The White House, USDA, and Chief of the Forest Service will require frequent updates from incidents with media and political potential.

The U.S. Forest Service (FS) local unit is responsible for the content of fire communications during and after a fire.

Information about fires of interest to the news media, elected officials, senior FS and U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) leadership, and other important stakeholders should be posted on InciWeb as soon as possible after the incident begins.

When a fire of interest occurs in your area, regardless of which agency has jurisdiction over it, notify the National Fire Desk and/or Jennifer Jones at NIFC ASAP.

2014 NIFC Fire Season Themes, FS Key Messages and other PIO information and training resources are available in the 2014 Incident Communications Toolkit on the NIFC PIO Bulletin BoardNIFC PIO Bulletin Board

PIOs working on fires on National Forest System lands are authorized to provide information and interviews to all news media about the incident only. All other news media inquiries are to be referred to the local Forest Public Affairs staff.

Hot topics that should be referred to local FS PAO for response Fire policy Initial response to fire Fire cause Illegal drug production issues Illegal immigrant issues Airtanker fleet Budget Hazardous fuel treatments Firefighter safety

When a VIP visit is scheduled or expected on an incident, or occurs by surprise, please notify the WO Office of Communications ASAP. Senator John McCain, Wallow Fire, Arizona, 2011

The White House, USDA, and Chief of the Forest Service will require frequent updates from incidents with media and political potential. It may be necessary to assign one or two individuals to this task. Elk Fire, Boise National Forest, Idaho, 2013

U.S. Forest Service 2014 Incident Communications Guidance Available online at The U.S. Forest Service (FS) local unit is responsible for the content of fire communications during and after a fire. Information about fires of interest to the news media, elected officials, senior FS and U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) leadership, and other important stakeholders should be posted on InciWeb as soon as possible after the incident begins. When a fire of interest occurs in your area, regardless of which agency has jurisdiction over it, notify the National Fire Desk and/or Jennifer Jones at NIFC ASAP NIFC Fire Season Themes, FS Key Messages and other PIO information and training resources are available in the 2014 Incident Communications Toolkit on the NIFC PIO Bulletin BoardNIFC PIO Bulletin Board PIOs working on fires on National Forest System lands are authorized to provide information and interviews to all news media about the incident only. All other news media inquiries are to be referred to the local Forest Public Affairs staff. When a VIP visit is scheduled or expected on an incident, or occurs by surprise, please notify the WO Office of Communications ASAP. The White House, USDA, and Chief of the Forest Service will require frequent updates from incidents with media and political potential.

Engagement and Outreach through Social Media A Partnership Network Peer Learning Session Thursday, July 10 th, :00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time RSVP Link: Forest Service Social Media Guidelines Current guidance is available at Guidance will be changing soon – Forests and Grasslands that want to have a Facebook page through a partnership with the National Forest Foundation must attend a webinar on Thursday, July 10: Tiffany Holloway Public Affairs Specialist Office of Communication Brienne Magee Presentation to AC/IC Meeting on Social Media available on the NIFC PIO Bulletin Board at:

NATIONAL FIRE DESK Kaari Carpenter Manager, National Fire Desk USFS Headquarters, Washington, DC

NATIONAL FIRE DESK What the NFD does Chief’s Stand Up and Incident Updates: 0800 & 1000 Briefings to the USDA Undersecretary State Briefing Papers summarizing fire activity and/or individual fires of significance

NATIONAL FIRE DESK Urgent requests for information on incidents Hearing Preparation Keeping FAM leadership informed of incident activity that could be of interest to high level government leadership

NATIONAL FIRE DESK Key Points Requests made to NFD are not always directly related to federal resources, jurisdiction/ownership and/or the incident.

NATIONAL FIRE DESK Key Points Requests made to NFD are often urgent. ▫ This requires the staff to obtain information in the quickest manner possible.

NATIONAL FIRE DESK Key Points The NFD provides information for leadership that resides in the Eastern Time Zone. ▫ Information requests can be early in the morning.

NATIONAL FIRE DESK National Fire Desk Manager, Kaari Carpenter or

Updates and Changes for 2014: Improved performance and reliability Integrated NIMS 209 fields Improved video feature Stream-lined user input on the Administration Site Looking Ahead: Mobile App or Mobile web site Re-engineered public web page

USFS established a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with GovDelivery Integrated mass /text messaging/social media services for use during wildfires for a pre-determined amount of time PIO input solution to incident communications GovDelivery meets federal government security requirements where free-services don't.

Provides mass and text messaging services on an 'as needed' basis Is set up on short notice within 24 hours Allows interested individuals to independently 'opt in' or 'opt out' of service through a web- link Multiple authorized PAO's & PIO's can send s and text messages from any internet enabled location or device Account holders receive a special link - username and password to manage account

This BPA is available for use by unit public affairs staff and Incident Management Team PIO's during wildfires and other types of incidents; prescribed fires; and fire related activities. Individual Forests can pay for a one time set-up fee to use on the forest - then pay usage fees OR IMT's can pay usage fees to use Forest account while on an incident on that Forest. The fees for use of this service are: Flat Account Set-Up Fee - $4, Plus flat usage fee for capability to send up to 10,000 s and 10,000 text messages within a 24 hour period, 7 days per week: 30 days - $ days - $1, days - $1, Accounts established by IMTs will be owned by the unit that the incident occurs on, not by the IMT. Host units will own the accounts – the usage fee is paid any time the program is activated on the host unit.

Since 2013, the Incident Notification Program was activated twice on wildfires: Yarnell Hill Fire – 2013 Slide Fire Both accounts were set-up and ready to use, training included, within 24 hours or less. Yarnell Hill Fire managed nearly 750 subscribers; Slide Fire managed more than 2,000 subscribers.

Photo and Video Contracts 2 photographers and 2 videographers available on national contracts. Photographers and videographers assigned to incidents will be determined by NIFC. Rights to images shared between U.S. Forest Service and photographer/videographer. To hire a photographer or videographer, contact Jennifer Jones or Christine Schuldheisz at NIFC on a weekday if possible. Photographers and videographers cannot begin working without at least verbal approval from NIFC contracting.

Commercial Film Projects Commercial film permits are required for “nongovernmental audiovisual productions” (FSM ) that are not “breaking news.” WO FAM only accepts proposals for nongovernmental audiovisual productions from September through February each year for filming during the following fire season. WO FAM has approved 2 nongovernmental audiovisual productions for 2014: ABC Nightline “A behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to manage a large wildfire” Commercial film permit has been issued Earth Vision Trust “Chasing Now: the Story of Our Time” Commercial film permit application has been submitted

Questions and Answers Elk Complex, Boise National Forest, Idaho, 2013

U.S. Forest Service Incident Communications Team Jennifer Jones, , Christine Schuldheisz, , Mike Ferris, , Additional U.S. Forest Service Fire Communications staff Nancy Guerrero, , Amparo Garcia, , Robert Westover, , FS Fire Communication Materials available on the NIFC PIO Bulletin Board: