At the incident scene, who handles media inquiries?

• A. Public Information Officer
• B. Incident Commander
• C. Liaison Officer
• D. Safety Officer

Answer: (A)

In the incident command system, media inquiries are handled by the Public Information Officer, the designated official responsible for communicating with the public and the press. This role coordinates what information is released, ensures accuracy and consistency across all updates, and serves as the single point of contact for reporters at the scene or from the Joint Information Center. The Incident Commander focuses on directing operations and achieving incident objectives, not on media relations. The Liaison Officer acts as a link to cooperating agencies, while the Safety Officer concentrates on protecting personnel and ensuring safe operations. That’s why the Public Information Officer is the best fit for handling media inquiries at the scene.