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MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

Click to learn how to request an AFD fire incident report.

Basic facts about major incidents will be placed on the AFD website at Major Emergency Incidents.

Information on major incidents also can be obtained via local media, including information such as street closures or evacuations.

For major emergencies, such as severe weather conditions, the City of Austin Office of Emergency Management also posts updated information on its website.

MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA
The Austin Fire Department has an on-call rotation of responders to major incidents. The on-call PIO is charged with assisting media at emergency scenes by gathering information, explaining AFD actions at the scene, providing interviews, and sharing relevant fire and life safety information.

During regular business hours (7:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m.), media should first contact (512) 974-0150. Please keep in mind that listening closely to the scanner is the best way to learn what is occurring early in an incident (which is what the PIOs do). Until a PIO actually arrives on scene and can gather more detailed information, he/she also is operating from the information that goes over the airwaves.

The on-call PIO pager number is 802-1080. Media with alphanumeric capabilities should type a brief message explaining what the request is about. Media without the capability can leave the studio phone number or a reporter's number. All members of the PIO group receive pages; it is the responsibility of the on-call person to return them. Keep in mind that media who are on-scene will be assisted more quickly than those who are paging. The on-call PIO will return pages as soon as he/she is able to do so.

On-scene the PIO will be identified in an orange vest that is labelled "Public Information" or "PIO." He/she usually will be located in the general area of the Command Post (white AFD Excursion with a green flashing light on the roof). For longer incidents, the PIO will establish a media briefing area and provide updates at regular intervals.