What happens when leadership’s focus on managing legal, political, and operational risk collides with the public’s demand for answers? During the consolidation of the South Santa Clara County Fire Protection District, communicators faced an uphill battle – balancing leadership’s caution with the need for transparency and to sustain community trust. As information slowed, speculation and misinformation filled the void, eroding confidence and morale. This session takes an honest look at how competing priorities and communication constraints complicated an already sensitive process – and how the team worked to regain control of the narrative while advocating for openness and responsiveness.