NIFC FS PUBLIC AFFAIRS | July 2019

USDA Forest Service

Washington Office, Fire and Aviation Management (WO FAM) Public Affairs

Firefighter Photography, Videography, and Social Media Guidance

As technology evolves, increasing numbers of USDA Forest Service wildland firefighters 

are bringing their personal mobile phones, cameras, computers and other electronic devices to 

work and using them to send and receive personal calls and text messages, to take photographs 

and videos of work-related activities and post them to personal social media accounts, and to 

monitor their personal social media accounts.

Forest Service policy permits these activities outside of work hours or otherwise not on 

government time when conducted in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and 

policies. However, engaging in these activities in the complex, hazardous, and dynamic wildland 

fire environment creates significant risks for wildland firefighters and is therefore strongly 

discouraged.

There are many legitimate work-related reasons for wildland firefighters to shoot photos 

and videos on the job, including providing images to duty officers, agency administrators, and 

incident management team members for size up and decision support; documenting extreme fire 

behavior to further research; assisting with training development; improving performance and 

techniques; and documenting accidents or near misses. However, the lives of wildland 

firefighters depend on maintaining situational awareness at all times. Wildland firefighters who 

are even momentarily distracted by using their personal mobile phones, cameras, computers, and 

other electronic devices even during lunch or other breaks, risk missing important verbal 

information, such as radio transmissions, or environmental cues, such as subtle changes in wind 

direction and speed, that could be critical to their safety.

Forest Service wildland firefighters who choose to accept the safety risks associated with 

taking photos and videos of work-related activities and posting them on their personal social 

media accounts must ensure that they comply with all applicable agency and USDA regulations. 

Violations may result in disciplinary action. Applicable regulations include, but are not limited 

to:

 USDA Photography Policy, Departmental Regulation 1480-001 states that “No 

photographic work will be undertaken that is not essential for official use or necessary in 

furthering the official business of the USDA,” and “photographs taken of USDA work or 

subject matter by employees using private equipment on government time...are the 

property of USDA.” This means that during work hours, wildland firefighters can only 

take photos or videos that are needed for work purposes and those photos or videos are 

government property, even if wildland firefighters take them on their personal devices.
NIFC FS PUBLIC AFFAIRS | July 2019

 USDA New Media Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities, Departmental Regulation 

1495-001 stipulates that “Personal or private users of new media websites or accounts 

should not claim to officially represent the Department or its policies, or use the 

Department or other U.S. government seals or logos. Personal or private activities may 

not violate federal ethics rules.” Additional information regarding Federal ethics rules is 

available in a U.S. Office of Government Ethics Legal Advisory regarding “The 

Standards of Conduct as Applied to Personal Social Media Use.

 USDA Regulation on Employee Responsibilities and Conduct, Departmental Regulation 

4070-735-001 stipulates that “employees are prohibited from engaging in criminal, 

infamous, dishonest, immoral, or notoriously disgraceful conduct, or other conduct 

prejudicial to the Government at any time.” This applies to all photos, videos, and 

messages that Forest Service wildland firefighters post on their personal social media 

accounts, whether they are work-related or not.

Photographs, videos, and other information taken by firefighters could cause complications 

in the event that the Forest Service becomes involved in any litigation regarding a particular fire. 

Any information could be considered evidence in the lawsuits, and other litigants may have a 

right to seek that information from a personal device. Additionally, sharing information from the 

scene of a fatality of seriously injury, including condolences, is strongly discouraged in order to 

allow time for compassionate notification of family members.

Forest Service wildland firefighters who shoot photos and videos of work related activities 

and post them on their personal social media accounts must be mindful that images and messages 

reflect not only on their own professionalism, but also on the professionalism of their unit, the 

agency, and the interagency wildland fire community. We are all responsible to stand up for each 

other and ensure we are fostering a work environment characterized by mutual trust and respect.

The Forest Service has enjoyed a reputation as the world leader in wildland firefighting for 

more than 100 years. It is the responsibility of all agency wildland firefighters to continue that 

legacy by ensuring that their conduct is appropriate both on the fireline and online.