Nature of Fire
Miles away from the wild fire's front line, you can see a smoke cloud rising in the sky. Ash rains down on the population below, a warning that the fire is growing stronger. As the fires move closer to residential areas, whole neighborhoods are instructed to leave. Many people have little time to gather their belongings and take what matters the most to them. People are seen carrying their animals and photo albums out from their homes as fire trucks set a perimeter. Some feel confident enough to wait it out and arm themselves with garden hoses.
An arsenal is used to combat the fire. Military C-130 planes that carry thousands of pounds of Fire Retardant fly above the fire and pour the red substance ahead of the blaze. Helicopters scoop water from local water holes and dump their loads on the flames—the atmosphere on the fire's frontlines changes in seconds. The massive smoke blocks the sun and day turns to night, winds pick up and violently blow embers in all directs, searching for their next targets. Flames blow in the wild, creating incredible waves of fire and twisters. It is a scene that can only be described as apocalyptic.
Wildlife is the most vulnerable during these disasters; caught in the middle of the flames, they panic out of the area. A burnt rabbit's fur melted to its body, and the pain from its wounds was seen in the creature's eyes. Teams of people dispatched to help save these animals and help relocate them, but there are not enough resources to save many lives. Firefighters on the scene work hard, long hours battling the fires. They become soldiers in the fight against mother nature and its power. They put their fears behind them and march straight into the places where many are fleeing. They team together to ensure each others' safety. Scenes of these men and women hiking up steep hillsides armed with a plow and shovel. The only chance to save a community is to create a barrier from the fire.
As these fires grow every year, so do the casualties. These fires have shown me the real power of mother nature; it has shown me the resilience of communities affected and families who have lost so much. It has shown me what bravery is as I watched firefighter's step into the fray, as volunteers help escort horse from locked pens that could not be freed. These fires are only getting worse, and these scenes will remind us of the costs.
A firefighter moves towards a house that sits on the frontline of a wildfire. Fires move quickly, and as winds pick up, the flames can change directions in seconds.
A CALFIRE member stands in front of a bursting flame on the fireline of one of the most dangerous fires in California history.
After waiting to see if the fire will move away from his home, a man flees to his vehicle. The fire department asked the community to evacuate to prevent death or injury from the wildfire.
A neighborhood sits in the path of destruction as a violent wildfire destroys anything in its way.
A firefighter carries a house from a fire truck into the backyard of a house, becoming a frontline in the fight of this wildfire.
An Air Force C-130 plane drops fire retardant on houses to help protect them from the incoming blaze.
A portrait of a CALFIRE fighter as he comes off the fireline. Firefighters spend hours battling the violent wildfire.
Two firefighters from different departments from Texas and California work together to attach hoses to a water source. The state of California faced its worst fire season in history. One of the worst fires located in Los Angeles and Ventura County named the Woolsey Fire. This wildfire burned; 96,949 acres and destroyed 1,643 structures. Three people reported to have died in the blaze, and over a quarter-million evacuated.
This wildfire burned; 96,949 acres and destroyed 1,643 structures. Three people reported to have died in the blaze, and over a quarter-million evacuated. Two Fire Chiefs sit on the bed of a truck after hours of battling a violent wildfire.
A CALFIRE member walks into the head of a deadly wildfire. This wildfire burned; 96,949 acres and destroyed 1,643 structures. Three people reported to have died in the blaze, and over a quarter-million evacuated.
A building is left destroyed after a wildfire spreads through a community. Firefighters tape off any structures that could be dangerous.
A man looks through the rubble of his home after it fell from a violent wildfire.
A resident stands on his roof with a garden house trying to water down his house to protect the home from the incoming wildfire.
Three people reported to have died in the blaze, and over a quarter-million evacuated. A vehicle left on the side of the road is destroyed by a dangerous wildfire.
A helicopter flies over a neighborhood that has been destroyed by the wildfire. One thousand six hundred forty-three structures have turned to rubble and ash over a month of fire.
A woman with the Humane Society escorts a wounded horse to a safe location. Some horses have been trapped in pens and suffered burns from the wildfires. Many owners were unable to get to their homes to rescue their livestock.
A burnt rabbit's fur melted to its body, and the pain from its wounds was seen in the creature's eyes.
A group of firefighters from Texas gathers together when arriving at the frontline of the wildfire. Many outside departments have volunteered to help California battle the blaze.