When I do interviews with people involved in news events, I really try to listen, not just to the facts but the emotion.  Last night I heard something in someones voice as I interviewed him "live" on the air and I had to check it out.

A fire broke out at Salt Lake City International Airport in the fire training area.  A 12,000 gallon propane tank was leaking and the propane was sending flames into the air.  Next to that tank was another 12,000 gallon propane tank.  It was a huge bomb ready to explode.  This was no training exercise, this was an accident.

The fire department could only spray water on the tanks trying to keep them cool and keep the propane from "boiling" and splitting the tank.  They set the stream of water and backed off.  An evacuation zone was set up with a two mile radius.  This was a dangerous situation. 

I was on the air with a "live" breaking news cut-in and we had the assistant fire chief, Dennis McKone on the telephone.  He was going down the list of what the department was doing and explaining the evacuation zone and then I heard it.

You might call it a "gasp" or maybe it was just a gutteral reaction, but I heard something in Asst. Chief McKone's voice that told me he was concerned, very concerned, maybe even frightened.  His "words" were reassuring us that the department had the situation under control and it was doing all it could.

But, I could tell that was not the entire story.  So, I asked.  I said to Dennis, "I can hear it in your voice, the fear, this is potentially very dangerous isn't it.?"

He said yes and he opened up.  He said if this explodes most people in Salt Lake City will feel it. It could crack windows in the downtown area.  He let out a breath.  He was frightened, too and he let it show.  He let his guard down. It was part of the story and in order for us to understand the importance of the event, we had to see him show his emotion, too.

I am glad I asked the question.  I wish more public officials or police or firefighters would allow us to show their fear and concern.  We know it's a dangerous job.  Thanks for doing it...and for sharing it like Assistant Chief McKone.

By the way, the department ran out of water to cool the tank.  But, the propane burned itself out and there was no explosion.  It was still right to be afraid.  In fact, go to our website and check out the story on June 7th by Larry Warren at 10 pm.  He will show you what would have happened if that thing had exploded.