Matt Meister Chief Meteorologist, KRDO-TV NewsChannel 13 Colorado Springs, CO
The Waldo Canyon Fire is the most destructive fire in Colorado history, burning 346 homes to the ground in the northwest part of the city on June 26th, 2012 and causing smoke and fire damage to numerous other homes. According to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, insurance losses are estimated at more than $352.6 million with more than 4,300 claims filed to date. While a relatively small wildfire at 18,247 acres, its proximity to southern Colorado's largest population center and eventual movement into Colorado Springs makes it a very important fire.
This talk will focus on the challenges of communicating the many facets of the fire in a broadcast setting. Tools used to accurately determine and convey the real-time location of the fire and the ever changing weather elements driving the fire will be discussed. Lack of staffing resources in the weather department during a nearly week long round the clock broadcasting schedule will be addressed too.
A statewide Interactive Warning Team (IWT) was assembled at a two day workshop in Colorado Springs in April 2012. The successes of the resulting collaboration between the National Weather Service Offices in Pueblo and Boulder, broadcast meteorologists and local government agencies during the fire as a direct result of the IWT will be highlighted.
The benefits and challenges of using social media for information gathering and dissemination of information will be discussed as will the importance of a traditional broadcast medium that emerged during the event to those fleeing their homes as the fire blew into Colorado Springs.
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