The Blue Cut Fire: Day 2

California Wildfire. The Blue Cut Fire on day 2, June 17 2002, San Bernardino National Forest along I-15 and Hwy. 138, Baldy Mesa/Oak Hills.

The fire burns along I-15, closing it, and into the Oak Hills/Baldy Mesa area, where a California Department of Forestry crew on Engine 4473 is over run by fire. In the video the fire burns along I-15 and towards it as firefighters set backfires to prevent it from crossing the freeway, KABC 7 Inland Empire crew gets ready to leave as fire approaches, fire jumps the freeway. Then, injured firefighters are treated and airlifted by Mercy Air. Next, to the incident area with Engine 4473, showing damage to the engine. My Thanks to Battalion 3512. For those of you who are in the fire service, you might want to see the CDF report on the burnover here: http://www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2003_n_before/bluecut_investig/burnover.htm ...and lastly, enjoy watching the Northern California CDF firefighter put his nice hand over my lens as much as I like showing it to you.......

Photography by Larry R.Erickson Copyright 2002. Shot on DV.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Wildfires
• Brushfire
• firefighting
• spot
• news
• larry
• r.
• erickson
• CDF
• Burnover
• Inland
• Empire
• Photojournalism
• Blue
• Cut
• Fire

[riospartan72]

Asshole, let them have some room. When they are putting their hand up to the camera they most likely don't want you there.

[LarryRErickson]

Thank You. Actually "they" had lots of room. Perhaps you want to live in a society where journalists must ask permission from any government official prior to doing work, I dont and our laws fortunately dont support your dictatorial & authoritarian values, yet.

[SmNeveau4]

What kind of "journalism" work is that? You had no commentary decribing what had happened or what was going on. So really you were being a nuisance to the firefighters and creating a safety hazard for the rescue of injured firfighters. Im sure thats the kind of "society" you would rather see. Screw the people who are risking their lives to save your home, I need a to get footage of this.

[LarryRErickson]

Because there is no commentary therefore I must have been a nuisance and creating a safety hazard? You can tell all this by looking at my video? Impressive! Considering nowhere in my video is any "rescue" of firefighters. Obviously you like alot of non-thinking people equate the mere presence of a photojournalist with interference. I have always been fascinated with that mentality. Someone has to be present to make a photo. What you really have a problem with I suspect is the content isnt it...

[FIRESPOON1404]

First of all let me state that I work for CDF in TCU and I dont care where or what you film, because you show the taxpayers what they pay for. With that said I hate that fact that you are angry with the firefighter putting his hand over your lens. The reason he did that was because those injuried firefighters families had not been told yet. Would you want your family to find out that you have been injuried or killed on the tv. Please just keep that in mind when you are out there. Think of others

[mrandersom4473]

i work with the guy that was burn on this fire he is a good man knows his shit!!! i work on the new 4473 for TCU hope i never have to ues my shelter

be safe out ther brothers

[russiaNumber2]

Was there a shelter deployment on this fire? What IC would ever give them permission to back fire in wind conditions like that, they should have back fired at night, it looked about 10 or 11am when they were firing, that just doesn't make sense.

[dannybell420]

notice how most fire trucks say stay back 500 feet it mean stay back 500 feet buy a telephoto lens if it were me I would have done the same thing pictures are fine you did a great job but are job is stressful enough we don't need you in are space these men and women are family and we protect our families you should understand its your job so I realize you are desensitiezed and I forgive you you just don't know any better aparently money is more important than morals & ethics to you

[yamaharider47]

dude dont be an asshole its not the firefighters fault that you have to try video taping an injured firefighter thinking you you have the best shot god i hate the press

[1wickedfireman3]

Lets hope that backfire worked!!!

[salesmotivator]

God Bless America! We need more hero in this world.

[chief1300]

I work for CAL FIRE and have for fifteen years, It is the right of the press to basically go almost any place during a fire. I think that if you do your job and are respectful of the crews working in the area videos like this can help us as firefighterd better learn of the dangers of this job. That can reduce complacency.

[farodkhaledmossad]

I liked the video very much. Thanks for posting it.

[farodkhaledmossad]

There was enough room space for a engine truck over pass. I rate when people over react like that, specially when they are wrong and even more when they trespass physical limits touching others equipments/people etc.A valid question about this issue is why they operate cameras showing all the disgrace of a car accident, the get it under" educational" promotional, not even asking for permission. But journalists must do it all the time, and get touched by strangers and net wackos of all kind.