Who is responsible for providing information to the media when PRM staff is unavailable?

In situations where Public Relations Management (PRM) staff are unavailable, the Incident Commander or their designee takes on the responsibility of providing information to the media. This is critical because the Incident Commander is actively engaged on the incident scene and is in the best position to relay accurate and timely information about the event.

The Incident Commander's role is central to effective communication during emergencies, as they coordinate all operational aspects, including public information dissemination. This ensures that the messaging is consistent with the actions being taken on the ground and reflects the most current situation, which is essential for public safety and maintaining trust with the media and the community.

The other roles, such as the Fire Chief, Public Relations Officer, and Operations Chief, have their specific responsibilities that may not directly involve immediate media interaction during emergency scenarios. While they play important roles in overall departmental communications, they are typically not the first point of contact for media inquiries in the absence of PRM staff.