The wildland fire season has started in the Yakima with one large fire last week and several other small fires since then.
Here in central Washington, where it’s hot and dry in the summer, we get a lot of wildland fires. Some may burn only a few acres of sagebrush and cheatgrass while others may consume thousands of acres of forest land.
We’ve not had any large fires on the scale of Arizona’s 532,639-acre Wallow fire but we do get fires which threaten and destroy homes and other buildings. News about wildland fires is important to our readers, especially those living in rural areas which could someday be threatened by fire.
Covering wildland fire is exciting and dangerous. The images can be very compelling.
Problem is, we’re usually not allowed to cover wildland fires in any meaningful way.
Access is key in our jobs as photojournalists. Without access we’re not able to give our readers and viewers the images they deserve. Without access we’re simply frustrated bystanders, unable to do our jobs.
Forest fires on federal lands are the most problematic. The U.S. Forest Service simply does not allow any access to fires and fire lines. Though we have the proper protective clothing and have had some wildland fire behavior training, the Forest Service refuses to allow journalists anywhere near an active forest fire.
Because these fires often happen far from a regular road the only access is via a logging road and the forest service can easily blockade those roads to journalists. Cross-country travel on foot is not an option in our rugged mountains.
So, we’re left miles away looking at a smoke plume.
Smoke rises from the Discovery Fire near Rimrock Lake on Saturday, August 1, 2009. (SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republic)
Access to wildland fires on state land is almost equally non-existent. There have been a few state firefighting officials which have allowed us some access but it’s the exception, not the rule.
On the other hand, Yakima Valley fire districts are usually very helpful to us and allow us nearer the fires when it’s reasonably safe. We’ve been able to build relationships with these fire departments over the years and as a result they know us and we know them.
West Valley firefighter Kevin Larson, left, and Naches firefighter Derrick Dormaier extinquish hot spots in a fire which burned about an acre in timber just off Highway 410 at the Chinook Pass work center on Sunday afternoon, April 13. About 30 firefighters from 10 fire departments responded to the fire which started when a controlled burn by an individual got out of control because of a shift in the wind, said Nile fire department chief Derek Newton. No structures were damaged or people hurt in the blaze. Other fire departments were called in to battle the blaze because "you want to put everybody on it you can and kill it before it becomes a project," said Newton. (GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic}
As a result, we’re able to better inform our readers through our photography.
Our experiences here in the Yakima Valley are hardly unique. I’ve heard stories from other Washington state photojournalists about their similar lack of access to wildland fires.
Of course, photography from the fire line isn’t the only way to cover a wildland fire. Coverage of the fire victims and effects of the fire are also important elements of the story. However, the story isn’t really complete when we’re not able to present photos and video of the actual firefighting efforts.
As every wildland fire season begins I always have my hopes up that access to wildland fires on federal and state lands will improve but so far I’ve been disappointed. Maybe this year will be different.
–Gordon King
Covering wildland fires in central Washington is an exercise in serious frustration.
Picture This | seattletimes.com blog
Recent Comments