An Arkansas meteorologist demonstrated exceptional professionalism when he continued delivering live tornado warnings even as his studio caught fire. Noah Simmons was presenting his weather report on KFSM-TV in Johnson, Arkansas, on Saturday night when a studio light ignited.
Undaunted, Simmons persisted with his broadcast, which included critical tornado warnings. 'We just had a fire in the studio, but we've got two tornado warnings, so we've got to keep tracking this and covering this live,' Simmons told viewers.
Simmons quickly noticed something was amiss: 'I first saw the lights flicker, and I thought that was odd. About five seconds later, I started to smell smoke,' Simmons recounted in a Facebook livestream later. 'That's when I walked off camera a little bit and kind of said, "Guys, we have a fire happening in the studio right now."'
Station producer Trevor Branham swiftly extinguished the small fire using an extinguisher, resulting in hazy fumes filling the studio. Despite the challenging conditions, Simmons felt the tornado warnings were too crucial to ignore.
'It was a little tough to breathe — that's why I had my shirt over myself — but when you're tracking two tornado warnings at the time, I felt there was a need to keep going,' Simmons explained. 'If there's a tornado warning, you've got to keep folks safe, and you've got to keep them up to date.'
No Injuries and Praise from the Boss
Fortunately, no one was injured in the Saturday fire, although Simmons admitted to suffering minor throat irritations. Station manager Van Comer praised both the meteorologist and his producer for their composure.
'What viewers saw Saturday night was professionalism under pressure,' Comer said. 'Noah stayed calm and focused during a critical weather situation, while Trevor acted quickly to ensure our employees remained safe.'
The incident highlights the dedication of local journalists who prioritize public safety even in the face of personal danger. Simmons' commitment to keeping his audience informed during a severe weather event, despite the fire, has earned widespread admiration.
