Is the Fire Better? Lessons from the Dollar Ridge Fire

Is the Fire Better?

Lessons from the Dollar Ridge Fire

First photo: July 1 at 1:22 p.m.

Photo credit: Kama Lucero

Second photo: July 1 at 2:40 p.m.

Photo credit: Kama Lucero

Third photo: July 1 at 4:35 p.m.

Photo credit: Kama Lucero

The first part of July 2

Fire activity on July 2 July 1: 6,600 acres by 9 p.m.

July 2: Fire grows by 15,200 acres July 3: Fire grows by 12,400 acres July 4: Fire grows by 7,900 acres July 5: Fire grows by 5,600 acres

The second part of July 2

Issues with Evacuations

First Responder Safety

Inadequate Maps

The Name Game

Risks to First Responders

July 2, 2018

Risks to First Responders

July 12, 2018

Inadequate Maps/ The Name Game

• No local landmarks labeled • No clue where they live or where their property is

• What do we call it; what do they call it

Attempt No. 1

Attempt No. 2

Attempt No. 3

https://www.udot.utah.gov/main/f?p=100:pg:0:::1:T,V:814

Attempt No. 4

The Final Result

The Name Game

The Name Game

Facebook: Friend or Foe

Facebook: Friend and Foe • An “official voice” for incident info

• Quickly reach large audiences • Ability to interact with the public • Provides a “gathering place” • Photos/video/maps told our story

Facebook: Friend and Foe

Facebook: Friend and Foe

Facebook: Friend and Foe

Facebook: Friend and Foe

Facebook: Friend and Foe

Facebook: Friend and Foe

You can’t have just one…

And when it rains …

Video: Todd Adamson via ABC 4 Utah

Round One

July 31, 2018

Round One

July 31, 2018

Round Two

Aug. 23, 2018 Photos: Ben Henderson

Round Two

Aug. 23, 2018 Photos: Ben Henderson

The Keys to our Success • Cooperation at all levels • Excellent interagency IMTs • Clear, unified messages

• Accessibility to officials • Community partnerships • Genuine care for people

If I had it to do over …

• I’d go to the scene sooner.

• I’d ask for PIO help L-O-N-G before I needed it.

• I’d bring more county departments to the table.

• I’d tag old posts as outdated instead of deleting.

• I’d put the date and time on EVERY post.

• I’d want to do it surrounded by the same team.

Questions?

EMAIL: geoff@glcomms.com PHONE: 435-828-4050