The Taylor Bridge fire east of Cle Elum is all but wrapped up – the fire which started Aug. 13 burned 23,000 acres and burned a number of homes.
Photographers from a number of news outlets, including the Yakima Herald-Republic, Seattle Times, Ellensburg Daily Record and the Associated Press covered the fire. You can see the photographs here. You’ll see lots of great photography. But what you won’t see are any photos of firefighters fighting fires.
That’s because firefighting officials closed off all access to the fire soon after the fire started. Photographers from the Seattle Times and Associated Press were able to get into one area near the fire soon after it started but that area was soon closed as well. Those photographers got some great photos, despite the closure efforts. Only one road was left unguarded (I am not sure if it was an oversight or not) and so we were able to get at least somewhat close to the fire and firefighters doing some work. Not much work, but at least some.
Firefighters put out hot spots Aug. 15, 2012. The real fire may be seen burning in the background in the timbered area. This is the only time I was able to capture firefighters doing any actual firefighting. I was able to get this photo because one backroad into the fire area was left unguarded and I, along with several other media members was able to sneak into the fire area. (GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic)
I know there’s more to forest fires than just people fighting fires. There is destruction to homes, forests and sometimes, loss of life. There are volunteer efforts, firefighter support and so on. All of which deserve coverage, both through images and words.
But the firefighting efforts and the firefighters themselves are a crucial part of the picture. But because of restrictions by authorities we are not able to provide that part of the picture to our readers and viewers.
Promises are made each fire season to get media to the fire lines as soon as possible. Those promises are usually never fulfilled. At the Taylor Bridge fire media were led on a couple of choreographed tours which kept the media well away from the fire lines and property destruction. The photos and video from those tours hardly served to inform people of the firefighting efforts.
Members of the media are reflected in a fire official's sunglasses during a media tour of the Sunlight Waters neighborhood east of Cle Elum Wednesday, Aug. 15. On this tour the media were tightly controlled and not allowed to see any fire damage. Orders were also given to the media that any homes destroyed by fire were not to be photographed. The media was allowed to see several firefighters clearing more defensible space around homes as well as a couple of helicopters dropping water but nothing more. (GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic)
Fire officials cite our safety as their main concern for keeping us away from the fire lines. However, by closing off all access we are forced to try and sneak around the closures and find alternate ways to the fire lines. This back-door approach can be much more dangerous than an escorted trip to the fire lines.
Perhaps fire officials will someday learn the value of informing the public of their firefighting efforts and allow us on to (or, at least closer) the fire lines. But I am not optimistic they will.
–Gordon King
Picture This | seattletimes.com blog
God forbid you actually just follow the rules and not sneak around.
If they let you in, the first person to get hurt will of course sue, since that’s the only option now a days. And you imply it’s the fire officials fault, if someone gets hurt because they didn’t follow the rules and tried to be sneaky??!!
WHERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY IN THIS NATION???? NO WHERE!!
Do you realize how many people were waiting to hear if their homes were still intact? How would you rather find out that all your wordly possessions and family pets, livestock, ect is gone? By an informed official with actual details by phone or in person, by a relative or friend who has been informed, OR some 15 second blurb on the 5 o’clock news before they switch over to sports??
Yes the media is and always will be an important tool. But it seems harder and harder to find common sense, compassion and ethics within the news industry. When did you start resembling your leech cousins, the paparrazi so much??
Yes, it was indeed a rant. I felt the coverage was more than adequate. What did I miss? Except for your percieved missed opportunity for a photograph opportunity? How many firefighters do you suppose they would have to divert from firefighting efforts to escort you in a dangerous area?
Jim-
I believe the coverage was adequate but incomplete. We were able to visually tell a mostly-complete – but not complete – story because of the onerous restrictions.
At fires of this magnitude there is a team of public information officers. One, or several, of these officials could take us to the fire lines. Because these PIOs are also firefighters they would be able to keep us out of harm’s way. There would be no diversion of firefighting manpower to help us do our job.
Thanks very much for reading our blog (and my rants).
Gordon King
Somehow in this day of 24/7 news, those that go after the stories and photos seem to think they have a right to total access to every situation, no matter how much of a hardship it puts on the people on the ground. Freedom of speech is one thing, but full access in all situations is another in my mind. I don’t think a photo journalist has any RIGHT to be on or near the lines of a fire. Everyone in that location needs his or her full attention on what’s going on, not having to worry about a “guest”. As for the Public Information Officers job, it’s just that, to provide information, not be an escort. As a photographer or journalist, I don’t believe you have any business in the closed off area, creating a distraction and endangering lives.