Arkansas meteorologist Noah Simmons has gone viral after a TikToker posted a video of him calmly reacting to a fire that occurred while he was reporting severe weather. In the video, you can see the man’s attention caught off-screen in the midst of updating viewers on tornado warnings.
Simmons can be seen looking repeatedly to the side before notifying the audience, “And there is a – There’s a fire in the studio right now.” The man remained poised as he walked slightly off camera, trying to get someone’s attention: “Guys, can you hear me? We have a lamp on fire.” The incident occurred during a live broadcast, following two tornado warnings for Sebastian County. The video has been viewed over 134,000 times and received nearly 15,000 likes.
But this didn’t prevent the man from doing his job. He reported, “We got a fire in the studio, but we still gotta track these two tornado warnings.” He continued his coverage without evacuating the studio. The area that was being reported on included Hatchett, New Jenny Lind, and Greenwood, Arkansas. During this time, three tornadoes were confirmed, two of which were in the county that Simmions was covering. When questioned about his decision not to evacuate, he said he knew his viewers were in danger and felt the fire was far enough away that he could continue reporting.
Locals Applaud Arkansas Meteorologist
Many locals are applauding Simmons for keeping his composure and continuing to report on the severe weather despite potential risk to himself. One suggests, “Dude needs a raise.” One Arkansas resident shares their admiration, “Love the dedication to the tornadoes and keeping us safe.” Other locals share that the incident had them laughing. While the TikToker who shared the video agrees, she also says, “Lowk felt bad for him too; he was clearly shaking in his boots.”
Others have more unique reactions to the video. One wants to know, “Two tornado warnings, live on TV, a fire, and calm as a cucumber? I need to know the lexapro dosage.” Another commenter jokes, “And going live now to an active fire… Greg, can you hear us?” However, one local says the situation put them at ease during the weather: “I was vested in the fire and forgot we had tornadoes.”
At least Arkansas residents had a good laugh during a stressful time, thanks to Simmons. The meteorologist was unharmed by the fire.
