Brandon Rice
Distributed Producer
Bet it was amazing.
LA FIRE - I can see the smoke from my window!
- Thread starter USLatin
- Start date
Doc Bernard
Indie Arms Member
I am going to edit it and try to post. If I can't upload it here, I'll at least do some frame grabs.
Doc Bernard
Indie Arms Member
rafikiwilliams
Well-known member
heres some grabs from my hv20 in diamond bar. couldnt get very close at all... everything was blocked off. does anyone know how to be able to get closer access to such things?
Doc Bernard
Indie Arms Member
"does anyone know how to be able to get closer access to such things?"
I wouldn't recommend going anywhere near an active fire scene. I was able to do it because,
1. I knew some of the firefighters, and that is because I used to be a PCF Firefighter I/EMT for San Bernardino County Fire and then for Fresno Co. Fire and have worked with several them before as such.
2. I have the proper safety gear. Nomex, Fire Shelter, helmet, goggles, and know how to actually use them.
3. I have the proper fire scene training and act cool under threat of imminent death (and yes, that is the risk you will take if you try to get on an active vegetation fire scene) What are the 10 Situations that Shout Watch Out? You better know these and what they mean by heart.
4. I know how to not be in the way and hinder fire suppression operations.
5. I know when to get the he** out of the way.
6. I know the risks of being in those situations and what it could cost me. You will need to be willing to sacrifice your vehicle and gear if it gets bad, because if you want to live, you'll have to make that choice.
So get those things down, then you "might" get access, but you will need to understand, it probably won't. I have other ways of getting legal access too, but, sorry, those are my secrets.
I wouldn't recommend going anywhere near an active fire scene. I was able to do it because,
1. I knew some of the firefighters, and that is because I used to be a PCF Firefighter I/EMT for San Bernardino County Fire and then for Fresno Co. Fire and have worked with several them before as such.
2. I have the proper safety gear. Nomex, Fire Shelter, helmet, goggles, and know how to actually use them.
3. I have the proper fire scene training and act cool under threat of imminent death (and yes, that is the risk you will take if you try to get on an active vegetation fire scene) What are the 10 Situations that Shout Watch Out? You better know these and what they mean by heart.
4. I know how to not be in the way and hinder fire suppression operations.
5. I know when to get the he** out of the way.
6. I know the risks of being in those situations and what it could cost me. You will need to be willing to sacrifice your vehicle and gear if it gets bad, because if you want to live, you'll have to make that choice.
So get those things down, then you "might" get access, but you will need to understand, it probably won't. I have other ways of getting legal access too, but, sorry, those are my secrets.
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I just ninja'd my way to as close as i could get..with all the roads blocked this morning.
the fire is still pretty bad in diamond bar..but placerita caynon or whatever looks even worse...
I hope the best out of all those people who evacuated and hope everybody stays safe.
the fire is still pretty bad in diamond bar..but placerita caynon or whatever looks even worse...
I hope the best out of all those people who evacuated and hope everybody stays safe.
Doc Bernard
Indie Arms Member
Hope it was worth it.
Hope it was worth it.
Hopefully no homes were looted in that area, as you just admitted to being in the area on a public forum. LOL
I'd keep that info to yourself, because if they go looking to make an example of someone.............
1. You were subject to arrest for just being inside the lines
2. You put yourself at risk, not only from fire, but from the aftermath of the fire. Lot of crazy things happen after a fire, landslides, ashslides, widow-makers. You could of been hurt and no one would know, and if they had to rescue your rear, that would of meant several people would be pulled off of their current duties to rescue you. That could of meant another house gone because you decided to break the lines. How would that of felt? People knew where I was and that I was with them, and here is the biggie, I had permission.
Sorry man, what you did is nothing to be proud of.
Hope it was worth it.
Hopefully no homes were looted in that area, as you just admitted to being in the area on a public forum. LOL
I'd keep that info to yourself, because if they go looking to make an example of someone.............
1. You were subject to arrest for just being inside the lines
2. You put yourself at risk, not only from fire, but from the aftermath of the fire. Lot of crazy things happen after a fire, landslides, ashslides, widow-makers. You could of been hurt and no one would know, and if they had to rescue your rear, that would of meant several people would be pulled off of their current duties to rescue you. That could of meant another house gone because you decided to break the lines. How would that of felt? People knew where I was and that I was with them, and here is the biggie, I had permission.
Sorry man, what you did is nothing to be proud of.
Doc Bernard
Indie Arms Member
Oh, ok, the way you made it sound........
But in a way my last post was directed to the poster trying to "find a way in". Thanks for being my object lesson. :dankk2: and sorry that I misconstrued what you were saying. LOL
But in a way my last post was directed to the poster trying to "find a way in". Thanks for being my object lesson. :dankk2: and sorry that I misconstrued what you were saying. LOL
Doc Bernard
Indie Arms Member
I can't wait to finish what I shot. I had my doubts about what my HVX would do, but talk about dramatic shots! Those screen grabs don't do any justice to the footage.
Doc Bernard
Indie Arms Member
I was able to get a few of the airdrops from earlier in the day, but they are distant shots. I zoomed max, but still a bit distant. But my night stuff is out of this world, so I hear you.
All day I was on the East flank of the fire, though if I was on the west side, I hear it was amazing. The other news crew that I was with that afternoon told me about some of the things the other crews caught on tape.
But with traffic and such, there was no way I was going to get over there.
All day I was on the East flank of the fire, though if I was on the west side, I hear it was amazing. The other news crew that I was with that afternoon told me about some of the things the other crews caught on tape.
But with traffic and such, there was no way I was going to get over there.
The above only allow for the slimmest of margins over a person with no training or gear. You're breaking a lot of rules too. Like,
1) no radio. Who ya gonna call? No, your cell phone isn't a radio.
2) solo operator. You're not with a TEAM.
3) Fool's bet to think you can get the "H*ll" out of the way. A brush fire can sweep through a ravine at 70mph, with pre heating it can literally explode into fire. I've seen it happen.
4) Statistically you're better off staying in a vehicle rather than making a run for it.
5) No line.
Bottom line though, the press covers wars, fires, riots, everything. I wouldn't begrudge any one the right to cover a newsmaking event. Just better be willing to lose all your gear and get burned up.
There's a lot of things to worry about in a brush incident, as someone who has been there done that, if there's one thing I'd suggest, to any ambitious video journalist, it's always AVOID A MID SLOPE POSITION. You can die there.
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Doc Bernard
Indie Arms Member
Actually I was with a team. A whole strike team was with me where I was allowed to set up, and they had radios. Actually when I walked off to take a leak, I had a loaned FD HT (radio) and my fire shelter with me (which I can deploy in less than 30 sec which is a FD standard drill). I wasn't in a ravine, LOL, I wouldn't place myself there, nor was I in a chimney. That is a "ravine" that runs steeply up the side of a hill or mountain for those who want to know.
Yeah, I know how to position myself. And the 70 mph thing, you better believe it, I have the footage to prove it, because I saw it last night. Yep mid slope situations are bad (that's how the crew from USFS was killed a few years back on the Banning Pass fire). I was on a bench with the wind to my back, fire advancing against the wind. The bench was clear of all brush and a defensible space for about 300 feet all around us. So there really weren't any rules broken here. The BC and the PIO knew I was with the crew (and therefore the command structure) and were fine with it. They also knew that if the proverbial sh@t hit the fan, I could handle an 1 1/4" crosslay off one of the rigs.
Basically, the point I was getting to is good luck getting permission to access a fire scene, unless you are with an agency, or can prove your training to the powers that be on a scene. The other point was, yeah, it is F'ing dangerous and you better be prepared to accept the tremendous risks if you do cross without permission.
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