Social Media Changes Communication Environment Around Wildfire Response

By Elaine Baumgartel

Albuquerque, NM – KUNM's Trip Jennings has been covering the Las Conchas fire burning near Los Alamos. The fire is 40 percent contained after burning over 130-thousand acres and causing the evacuation of Los Alamos and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

In fire emergency situations, air quality and safety information is critical. KUNM's Elaine Baumgartel asked Jennings about whether the Las Conchas fire was handled differently than the Cerro Grande fire in 2000 that burned hundreds of homes in Los Alamos.