Who is responsible for clearing all news releases?

The Public Information Officer (PIO) is responsible for clearing all news releases. This role typically includes acting as the main point of contact between the fire department and the media. The PIO is trained to manage communications effectively, ensuring that the information released to the public is accurate, timely, and aligns with the department's communication strategy. By overseeing the clearance of news releases, the PIO can control the messaging and maintain the department's reputation while also providing essential updates to the community.

In this context, the Fire Chief, while in a leadership position, does not handle daily media communications directly. Instead, they may provide the overarching policies or key messages, but the PIO implements these in regular news interactions. The Assistant Chief and Operations Manager have important roles within the department, focusing on operational aspects or specific divisions, but are not responsible for media relations or the clearance of news releases.