LA FIRE - I can see the smoke from my window!

Doc Bernard said:
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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Hanging around a bunch of Firefighters doens't make you part of their team. It makes you a journalist standing around a bunch of firefighters. Any BC that would consider you "Part of his crew" should be relieved of his command for gross imcompetence. Ditto for loaning you a radio. You should either be a filmmaker or fireman. No such thing as fireman-filmmaker.

Also, I wouldn't get too comfortable with that fire shelter, they're easy to deploy in a drill, but try it with an 80 knot wind blowing and a 200' high flame front heading at you like a freight train. It's really your last move before sticking your head between your legs and kissing your butt goodbye. For anyone that doesn't know, fireshelter is a piece foil shaped like an old pup tent, when all else fails you pull it out and ruffle out and climb under it. And there's some stuff about scratching out a little breathing pocket in the dirt. Then you wait for hell's inferno to pass you by. There's a red button on them that pops out when you are properly cooked, kinda like a turkey.
 
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Hanging around a bunch of Firefighters doens't make you part of their team.
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And owning a camera doesn't make you a journalist, either.

LOL, Brian, you actually think I don't know I am not FF? (Although I still have my FF-I cert). I know I am not a FF anymore. But with those credentials and knowledge, I am a bit more understanding of what is actually going on on a scene than just any guy with a camera. And that allows me a bit more access to the scene. And that knowledge more than covers me when it comes to CDF/CALFIRE's recommended training for Journalists covering Fire Ops.

As to the shelter comment, I have had to deploy my shelter before when cutting a scratch line up in the SBNF back in the day, so you are preaching to the choir. But thanks for sharing what it can and cannot do. Many people don't know how it works. Though mine didn't have the red pop-out button, LOL. I knew when I was well-done without it. No one was seriously hurt, thank God, but was kind of funny/surreal to see all the "baked potatoes" around me though.

Like I said I was with a crew, not a part of it. Hell, that would be foolish thinking. I know my place, but they also trusted me to be up in the area with them. They would come over and check out what I was getting on camera, and kick back over by my truck. A couple of them, I worked with when I was a firefighter, and we talked about old times and such.

So, I guess what I am saying here, is no I am not a FF anymore, but I stiil retain my knowledge and situational awareness as to have the making of a good, if not great fireline journalist.

Terry where was that shot from?
 
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The SMELL of the smoke was awful yesterday, just awful, like someone had a wood fireplace right outside your door. It's much better now, you can actually roll down your car windows.
 
I think its totally ok to film with the firefighters for Doc since he WAS a firefighter once. I wonder what type of flame I get from brianluce when he finds out that I go with police in plainclothes to make arrests and I was NEVER any LE :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
Brian's alright. He has some valid points too. What I did was dangerous, but not an unfamiliar situation for me. I would never recommend someone get that close to a fire unless they were trained.

Now, on the other hand, you have a lot of guts, and I bow to your bravery. I wouldn't go with the police (voluntarily), even if I was paid.
 
yeah those guts....Im working on them...lost 6 pounds in a week with a veggie soup diet :D

unfortunately I cant show any of the footage til its broadcast and then its in german..but its not as bad as you think....in the usa I also would NOT do this! over here in Europe its a bit cooler...actually very relaxed and unspectacular in a way.

http://www.miguelcaballero.com/cms/front_content.php
:beer:
 
timbook2 said:
I think its totally ok to film with the firefighters for Doc since he WAS a firefighter once. I wonder what type of flame I get from brianluce when he finds out that I go with police in plainclothes to make arrests and I was NEVER any LE :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
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Yes, I will flame you. What I'm saying is everyone, training or no training, puts themselves at risk when covering emergency incidents. But at the same time, cameras are a necessary part of these events. I'd support any camerman's right to cover a fire or police incident. That footage can be extremely valuable to Police and Fire as well, they use it for training, especially when something goes wrong and it's recorded to video. Okay, now I will flame you. Ready? Here goes... #!*@!%

Doc's footage: For any aspiring ENG journalists, you'll notice a lot of the shots are from a downhill and upwind position. Good for safety. Fires like to burn uphill and downwind.
 
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See, Brian, I am not as crazy as people think. But then again, maybe I am. No matter what, the fire behavior up there was erratic, as were the winds. It was nice to document that. Some people have no idea what the Santa Ana's do to a fire.
 
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