Working Side-by-Side from the Great Plains to the Great Divide

Media Tools

Ever wonder what a Bambi bucket is or what energy release component (ERC) means? Whether you're a seasoned reporter who has been covering wildfires for decades or a newbie who is just learning the ropes, you know that the wildland firefighting community has a language all its own. That's why we put a glossary of wildland fire terms on this website. And that's just the tip of the flame. You'll also find PSAs on a variety of topics including fire prevention and preparation, home and ranch safety, and prescribed fire. The best part is that you can localize them so they're relevant to your geographic area.

We'll be adding news releases and more PSAs from a variety of sources as we continue to populate the site, so visit us often. In the meantime, if there's anything specific you'd like us to add to the site, contact our webmaster. Our goal is to make this website a comprehensive resource for print and broadcast media in the Rocky Mountain Area, as well as those who are in the fire prevention, mitigation, and suppression business. And in order to keep everyone safe, we want to be sure that we're all speaking the same language. Did you say "slurry?"

News Release Templates

News release templates are ready to use! You can easily customize and use these templates in newsletters or send to your local media outlets. Topics include FireWise access, construction design, defensible space, landscaping, interior safety, and emergency water supplies.

Choose Construction Materials that Make Your Home FireWise. (doc 42 KB)

Create Defensible Space to Help Protect Lives, Homes and Communities from Wildfires. (doc 42 KB)

Emergency Access During Wildfires Helps Save Lives and Property. (doc 37 KB)

Home and Ranch Fire Safety Tips. (doc 507 KB)

Make Sure Your Emergency Water Supply Delivers During a Wildfire. (doc 39 KB)

Prevent and Prepare. (doc 1.3 MB)

Prescribed Fire is the Tool. (doc 29 KB) Nine PSAs for different ecosystems from the Pike-San Isabel National Forest and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands.

Select and Maintain Vegetation to Help Make Property FireWise. (doc 40 KB)

Take Steps Now to Increase Interior Safety during a Wildfire. (doc 45 KB)

Public Service Announcements (PSAs)

April 2011 - Learn Before You Burn (pdf 212 KB) Federal, state and local fire agencies are working together to raise fire awareness about debris burning. These agencies hope people will learn how to safely conduct debris and agricultural type burns. The “Learn Before You Burn” campaign is one way fire agencies are doing this. PSA (4 MB Windows Media Video/Audio)

06-20-07 To News and PSA Directors: Your assistance in getting this Public Service Announcement (pdf 95 KB) on the air will help the Colorado State Forest Service and their partners better inform the public about wildland fire prevention and the many effective efforts that can be made when communities, agencies and others work together against fire danger. The Rocky Mountain Wildland Fire Information website provides a wealth of materials regarding wildfire prevention and forest health promotion.

06-20-07 To News and PSA Directors: Please visit the National Wildland Fire Coordination Group website to access Public Service Announcements available in audio and PDF formats. Topics include: Wildland Fire Safety and Prevention, Fire Ecology, Fire History, Wildland Fire Management and Wildland-Urban Interface.

Reference Tools for the Media

Wildfire Glossary. (pdf 42 KB) A glossary of common wildfire-related terms

Colorado Fire Bans & Restrictions implemented by counties and other land management agencies

Wyoming Fire Restrictions from the BLM Wyoming website

National Interagency Fire Center Wildland Fire Outlook - July to October 2011 (link to pdf on NIFC website).