You're at a structure fire. Also, flames visible from three blocks out. Engines screaming down Main Street. Because of that, a reporter shoves a microphone toward the first firefighter she sees — "What started this? Any injuries? How long until it's contained?
That firefighter? He's got a job to do. He's busy. And he's not the one who should be answering Simple, but easy to overlook. That alone is useful..
So who does handle media inquiries at the incident scene? Practically speaking, the short answer: a Public Information Officer. But the real answer is more nuanced, and getting it wrong creates problems that last longer than the incident itself.
What Is a Public Information Officer
A Public Information Officer — PIO for short — is the designated point of contact between an incident command structure and the outside world. In real terms, public. Elected officials. Here's the thing — media. Stakeholders. Anyone who needs accurate, timely information but isn't part of the response That's the whole idea..
In the Incident Command System (ICS), the PIO sits on the Command Staff. Right alongside the Safety Officer and Liaison Officer. Not to the Planning Section. They report directly to the Incident Commander. Not to the Operations Chief. To the IC And it works..
This matters. It means the PIO has the authority to speak for the incident. Not "for the department" in some vague sense — for this incident, right now, under this command structure.
The PIO isn't just a spokesperson
People hear "PIO" and think "talking head at a podium." That's part of it. But a good PIO does way more before they ever face a camera:
- Monitors media coverage and social media for misinformation
- Coordinates with other agency PIOs (because incidents rarely stay in one jurisdiction)
- Drafts holding statements, news releases, talking points
- Briefs the Incident Commander on public perception and media angles
- Manages the Joint Information Center if one stands up
- Handles VIP visits, elected official briefings, community meetings
And they do it while the incident is still unfolding. Often with incomplete information. Always under pressure.
Why It Matters / Why People Care
Information vacuums get filled. Plus, always. If the official source goes silent, unofficial sources take over. Social media speculation. This leads to bystander video with wrong captions. The neighbor who "heard it was arson." The guy livestreaming from his roof who thinks he sees a body.
By the time the PIO gets a corrected statement out, the narrative has hardened. Corrections don't travel as fast as the original error And that's really what it comes down to..
Real consequences of getting this wrong
- Evacuation confusion — Residents don't know whether to leave or shelter in place because conflicting info is circulating
- Resource diversion — Responders get pulled to handle media instead of the incident
- Legal exposure — Off-the-cuff remarks by unauthorized personnel become discoverable in lawsuits
- Trust erosion — The public stops believing official channels when they've been burned by bad info before
- Family trauma — Victims' families learn critical details from a reporter instead of a liaison
I've seen a minor hazmat incident turn into a three-day media circus because an engine company officer gave an interview "just to be helpful." He speculated on the chemical. He was wrong. The correction took 48 hours to catch up.
How It Works (or How to Do It)
The ICS structure exists for a reason. Which means it scales. A car fire needs one PIO — maybe the battalion chief fills the role for 20 minutes. A wildfire needs a PIO team: lead PIO, deputy PIO, field PIOs, a JIC manager, social media specialists, a writer, a media monitor.
The PIO workflow during an incident
First 15 minutes: Establish contact with IC. Get the basic facts: what, where, when, actions taken, hazards, evacuations. Draft a holding statement. "We're responding to a reported structure fire at 1200 Main. Two engines on scene. No reported injuries. More info to follow."
First hour: Push that holding statement to every channel — department website, social media, email list, media distribution list. Set up a media staging area away from the command post. Brief the first arriving reporters. Give them a safety briefing. Tell them when the next update comes.
Ongoing: Regular updates on a predictable schedule. Even "no change" is an update. Monitor coverage. Correct errors fast. Coordinate with other PIOs — law enforcement, EMS, emergency management, utilities, Red Cross. If the incident grows, activate the Joint Information Center.
Demobilization: Final release. Lessons learned. After-action input. Archive everything.
The Joint Information Center
When multiple agencies respond, you need a JIC. Shared resources. So naturally, unified messaging. One physical or virtual location where all PIOs work together. No freelancing.
The JIC isn't optional for major incidents. Here's the thing — without it, you get the fire department saying "fire's 50% contained" while the sheriff's office says "evacuations expanding" and the utility says "power restored by noon. Which means it's where the "single voice" actually happens. " The public hears chaos Still holds up..
Field PIOs vs. JIC PIOs
Different roles. Field PIOs escort media at the scene. They know the hazards. They keep reporters safe and away from operations. But they don't speculate. They don't give interviews. They support.
JIC PIOs craft messages. Even so, manage the media briefing schedule. Here's the thing — write the news releases. Run the social media accounts. Analyze the coverage.
Mix these up and you get field PIOs writing tweets while the fire blows up, or JIC PIOs leading a media tour into a collapse zone.
Common Mistakes / What Most People Get Wrong
"Any officer can talk to the press"
No. Not the guy who "handles media well.Just no. The IC designates the PIO. Not the senior captain. That's it. " Not the chief's nephew who took a communications class.
Unauthorized statements create liability. That said, they confuse the message. They undermine the actual PIO. And they put the speaker in a position they weren't trained for.
"We'll just say 'no comment'"
"No comment" reads as "we're hiding something." Even when you're not. A holding statement — "We're actively investigating and will share confirmed information as soon as we have it" — takes 30 seconds to write and buys you hours of credibility That alone is useful..
"Social media can wait"
It can't. The public expects real-time updates. In practice, if you're not posting, someone else is posting for you. Here's the thing — usually wrong. A PIO team needs a dedicated social media person for anything beyond a routine call.
"The PIO handles all media"
The PIO coordinates media. They don't personally do every interview. They prep the subject matter experts — the fire marshal for cause determination, the EMS chief for patient counts, the incident commander for strategy. The PIO makes sure the right person talks about the right topic at the right time Simple, but easy to overlook..
"We don't need a JIC for this"
Famous last words. If two agencies have PIOs on scene, you need a JIC. Which means even a virtual one. Even just a shared Slack channel and a 15-minute sync call.
lead to conflicting information, duplicated efforts, and missed opportunities to address critical concerns. To give you an idea, if one agency releases evacuation orders while another downplays the threat, the public receives mixed signals that erode trust and complicate response operations. Even minor incidents can escalate into major coordination challenges when PIOs operate in silos.
Another frequent oversight is failing to prepare key messages in advance. During a crisis, PIOs often scramble to craft statements on the fly, leading to inaccuracies or omissions. Pre-approved templates for common scenarios—such as natural disasters, hazardous material spills, or active threats—ensure clarity and consistency. Additionally, agencies should designate and train spokespersons before an incident occurs, rather than relying on whoever happens to be available.
Conclusion
Effective public information during emergencies hinges on structure, preparation, and clear roles. On the flip side, the Joint Information Center serves as the backbone of coordinated communication, ensuring unified messaging and efficient resource use. By distinguishing between field and JIC PIO roles, agencies can prevent dangerous overlaps and maintain operational focus. Avoiding common pitfalls like unauthorized statements or delayed social media responses protects both public trust and organizational liability. When all is said and done, investing in PIO training, pre-planning, and interagency collaboration isn’t just best practice—it’s essential for safeguarding communities and supporting successful emergency response efforts Which is the point..
