Since yesterday, when Entercom’s Ken Charles told us how his team was covering the fires, things have gotten a lot worse. Today we check in with Drew Hayes, General Manager for Cumulus’ KABC radio in Los Angeles.
Radio Ink: Since yesterday, it seems to have gotten worse. We’ve seen pictures of the Reagan Library today. What changed?
Drew Hayes: There are at least seven fires raging now, dotting northern L.A. County, Ventura and Riverside Counties. What changed is that historic hurricane-force winds began whipping up, coupled with relative humidity in the single digits. Add that to our already dry conditions, and this is what happens. We have wide swaths of uninhabited area here that fuel the fires, and then embers from those fires blow into areas that might have seemed safe. The pictures are horrendous and frightening, but the firefighters are experienced and are world-class at dealing with these conditions. They do it every year.
Radio Ink: Do you have preparations in place for fire coverage out there?
Drew Hayes: Yes. This is just the start of fire season so we know how to deploy resources — reporters, TV news partner coverage, social media, and listeners’ eyes and ears. We are always ready for any disaster — nature-driven or man-made. And all of our talent truly cranks up their performance when news breaks. This series of fires erupted in such rapid succession, however, that the speed and intensity of the blazes has been a challenge.
Radio Ink: How close are the fires to the radio stations?
Drew Hayes: KABC is based in the L.A. basin — pretty protected from this kind of natural hazard. But our folks still need to get here and home again, and the smell of the fires is pretty much all over L.A. County. The tower is in the South Bay area is also pretty safe from the fires. Of course, we’re always on alert for earthquakes — they are terrain-agnostic.
Radio Ink: Is everybody on your team/the cluster safe from the fire or have they had damage?
Drew Hayes: Everyone is safe, but vigilant. Many of our staff live near the areas threatened or have to pass through fire areas. And the normally insane SoCal traffic is even worse in those areas. Given the speed at which the fires move, staffers that live anywhere near the fires think not only about the safety of their homes and families, but also about coming to work while the kids are at school and keeping their fingers crossed that conditions don’t keep them from meeting up at home later.
Radio Ink: How bad has the damage been and how big an area is the fire affecting?
Drew Hayes: The area affected is literally thousands of acres in three counties of Southern California (remember there are massive fires in Northern California, too). In most metropolitan areas, hearing that a fire burned over 1,500 acres would mean certain loss of life and massive structural damage. Not so here. There has been, as of now, no loss of life in the fires this week, which is paramount. There will be many burned homes, and the smoke damage in many neighborhoods will be enormous, and this is just the start of fire season.
Radio Ink: What are your stations/your team doing for coverage?
Drew Hayes: Jillian Barberie and John Phillips in morning drive have been doing wall-to-wall fire covera: two reporters, our traffic reporter, and coverage from our news partner KTLA 5. Our goal is to make sure the listeners have the information they need if they are in or near the fires, to forecast where the fires will go, and to keep providing context for those in the unaffected areas — because really everyone is affected at the start of the day. These fires are sadly not new to anyone who works here and that experience is brought to bear in times like this. All of our shows are fire-intensive, providing up-to-the-minute news, airing all press conferences and updates. And also vital: we have traffic reports four times an hour and more when needed.
Radio Ink: Are you doing a lot of interviews phone calls with listeners or residents close to the fires?
Drew Hayes: Yes. As the fires pop up around the area, listeners and social media are human tracking devices. We also have had many interviews with those involved in the firefight or have experience; experts who can explain the behavior of the fires, tell stories of heroism and offer advice and counsel in how to deal with the fires and their aftermath. Our mid-morning host Larry O’Connor is friends with the head of the Reagan Library, who was able to reassure our listeners that the goats, who famously are used to munch greenery on the Library’s property, were indeed safe from the threatening fire.
Radio Ink: How would you say your people are doing?
Drew Hayes: When news breaks, our staff cranks up the news machine. All our hosts are expert at seeing, synthesizing, and communicating breaking news, including keeping eyes on TV and Internet while on the air. Our producers gang-tackle these events, sharing contacts and resources. And our two reporters — who actually work for an outside service — are highly skilled at distilling information and describing the story in live shots and Q&A with our hosts. They all deliver the story in a clear, usable way to give listeners the information they need to make crucial decisions.
Radio Ink: How does this compare to other major events you’ve covered?
Drew Hayes: Different. The pictures are frightening and moving, but for Californians, not new or unusual. There have been thousands of evacuations and major disruptions. And because the winds are unpredictable and mercurial, all you can do is monitor sources, be on standby and be ready to report. One thing is certain: the vast and vital importance of AM radio radio is on display. Power is shut off or cut off, cell service is spotty, and the Internet is impacted. You damn well better have a reliable, old school, battery-operated AM radio to keep you informed, sane, and safe.
Listen to KABC cover the fires HERE.
Send Drew an e-mail congratulating him for his great team coverage of the fires [email protected].
