Wildfires are routinely some of the toughest stories 2 News Nevada covers.
On Monday, Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue (TMFR) offered wildfire training to local media professionals to prepare them for these challenging stories.
The training went over basic safety concerns, as well as terminology to ensure we’re reporting information as accurately as possible.
TMFR said it puts out information as quickly as possible during an active blaze, but taking action to fight the fire or handle the emergency comes first.
This is especially true with bigger, more challenging fires.
"During the Davis Fire, the initial hours [were] very, very difficult to get information because our focus is sizing up that fire and really addressing it tactically to fight it,” said Adam Mayberry, Public Information Officer, TMFR.
TMFR also stressed the importance of wearing the proper equipment. That's why we're always wearing yellow jackets and green pants when we cover wildfires -- they're fire-resistant.
The agency also went over some terms you'll find in our wildfire coverage.
When 2 News Nevada gets containment percentages, that refers to how much of the fire is held up by control lines. A fire being 100% contained doesn't mean the fire's out; crews have just kept it from spreading.
But above all else, safety is the utmost concern, because we can't tell you what the fire's doing if we're about to be hit by it.
"The training really also is geared toward their safety,” Mayberry said. “I mean, we've had instances where our media partners have, in fact, been in harm's way. And so, this is an opportunity to ensure that they stay safe."
Mayberry said keeping your car ready-to-go is another important step.
“As an example, during the Davis Fire, we had one particular photojournalist who was close to the fire and ran out of gas,” he said, “and we actually had to go out and put gasoline in that reporter's vehicle. Those are the kinds of things we want to avoid."
When choosing a reporting location, TMFR recommends selecting a spot away from the fire and staying ready to go at any moment. That’s why you would find one of our vehicles running on the scene.
Thanks to this training, the newest members of 2 News Nevada are better equipped to provide you with the latest wildfire information safely and accurately.
