When fire and rescue personnel respond to an emergency, we are often invited into some of the most private and difficult moments of a person’s life.
A medical emergency. A vehicle crash. A house fire. A traumatic event. A mental health crisis. The loss of a loved one.
These incidents may happen in public, but the people involved still deserve privacy, dignity, and respect.
In today’s world, information can spread across social media within minutes. Photos, videos, names, addresses, scanner traffic, and speculation can quickly turn someone’s personal emergency into a public conversation — sometimes before their own family has even been notified.
We ask our community to remember:
• An emergency scene is not entertainment. Please avoid photographing or recording patients, victims, or grieving family members.
• Give responders room to work. Crowding an incident scene for a photograph or video can create additional hazards and interfere with emergency operations.
• Think before you post. Even when a name is not included, photographs, vehicles, addresses, or other details may identify the people involved.
• Avoid speculation. Initial information is frequently incomplete. Rumors about what happened, who was involved, or someone’s medical condition can cause significant harm.
• Allow families to communicate first. No family should learn about the serious injury or death of someone they love through a photograph, social media post, or community rumor.
For fire and rescue personnel, protecting people does not end when the immediate danger is controlled. It also means treating patients and families with compassion, preserving their dignity, and respecting confidential information entrusted to us.
We encourage the same consideration from everyone in our community.
Before sharing something from an emergency scene, ask yourself one question:
If this were me or someone I loved, would I want this moment shared publicly?
Behind every call number, ambulance, fire engine, and emergency scene is a real person who may be experiencing one of the most difficult days of their life.
Help us protect their privacy. Give them dignity. Give them space.