Southern California Fires

scottV · November 16, 2008

Took these yesterday in the Anaheim Hills area. Originally just going to get some wide shots of the plume over the 91 corridor. Came across this neighborhood where the fire was quickly advancing up the hill. The helicopters were dropping water on houses one street below, it was amazing how low they get in the windy conditions, I kept getting wet.

Going for a drop.

This was shot @ 24mm, yeah it was close.

Police showed up about 15 minutes after I got there and evacuated all the houses... It was a pretty crazy and emotional scene.

A man staying behind to water his house let me in the backyard to get a better view. The hillside was also starting to burn towards us.

Snapped this one after the residents had left and before the fire department arrived. An eerie time, silent except for the dull sound of smoke alarms in the homes.

Spraying down palm trees that ignited.

Later on I went a few blocks over and found 3 houses together that were completely destroyed.

Stopped on my way home to watch the choppers fill up in the reservoir and finish off my memory cards

All the others can be found here:
http://scottvickers.smugmug.com/gallery/6566393_YrdYo#418005060_BAWkP

Dee · November 16, 2008

What fantastic photos, sorry they had to be of so much devastation and heartbreak. I enjoyed your story telling also.

ront · November 16, 2008

Great pictures Scott. It is too bad that this event is happening and I am very sorry for all of the people that have lost their homes. We had something similar happen here in Spokane this summer. Not near to the extent as this, but there were some very nice homes lost also.

Thanks for sharing these with us, Ron

Tee Why · November 16, 2008

Like that second shot. Very unique and dramatic.

DaddyO · November 17, 2008

Dee wrote:

What fantastic photos, sorry they had to be of so much devastation and heartbreak. I enjoyed your story telling also.

Skippy · November 17, 2008

f00sion wrote:

Took these yesterday in the Anaheim Hills area. Originally just going to get some wide shots of the plume over the 91 corridor. Came across this neighborhood where the fire was quickly advancing up the hill. The helicopters were dropping water on houses one street below, it was amazing how low they get in the windy conditions, I kept getting wet.

Going for a drop.

This was shot @ 24mm, yeah it was close.

Police showed up about 15 minutes after I got there and evacuated all the houses... It was a pretty crazy and emotional scene.

A man staying behind to water his house let me in the backyard to get a better view. The hillside was also starting to burn towards us.

Snapped this one after the residents had left and before the fire department arrived. An eerie time, silent except for the dull sound of smoke alarms in the homes.

Spraying down palm trees that ignited.

Later on I went a few blocks over and found 3 houses together that were completely destroyed.

Stopped on my way home to watch the choppers fill up in the reservoir and finish off my memory cards

All the others can be found here:
http://scottvickers.smugmug.com/gallery/6566393_YrdYo#418005060_BAWkP

Great reporting Scott, how scary would that be to see a huge fire so close, know how destructive it has already been.

The palm trees in the shot with the Police Officer,
are they wiltered from the heat, or bending in the wind?

Heartbreaking for so many people, sad to see but it happens all too often.

Hope we don't have the same here in Australia this summer.

Thanks for sharing Scott

... Skippy

.

scottV · November 19, 2008

thanks everyone.

skippy: the palm trees were bent from the wind

roentarre · November 19, 2008

A very good series of photojournalism.

A sad day but you captured the scenes well

Cygnus Studios · November 19, 2008

I hate to see the devastation, but you truly captured some awsome photos.

Frog Lady · November 20, 2008

Scott - you did a great job of capturing the events associated w/ the SoCal wildfires. Your images brought memories flooding back from the "Old Fires" (2003 if memory serves correctly). My neighborhood was almost evacuated twice as the fires came very close (the similar style architecture and landscaping was almost erie) to an old dead orange orchard across the street. We also had a mini-lake in the association that served as a reservoir and saw way too many of those helo's coming in and out. We were lucky though, no damage in our neighborhood.

Unfortunately, it seems these events are becoming all to frequent.

C.

tsk1979 · November 20, 2008

When I first came to California, I was very amazed to find houses, and even 2-3 story apartment complexes made of wood!
In India, wood is almost never used, except in floorings of very expensive houses since its considered to be luxury.
So all houses are mostly made of bricks, and bigger ones and apartments are made of Concrete blocks.
So no change of fire doing anything to the structure unless you have done heavy woodwork in the houses.
Why are houses in california made of wood? Is it significantly cheaper than concrete etc.,
In India, wood is very expensive, and therefore as a cheap and cost effective option bricks(fired in kilns) or concrete blocks called suparex are used.
Flooring is either cement(poor man), Ceramic tiles(meidum to high cost depending upon budget) or Marble(medium to high cost)

Won't it make sense for new construction to be done with concrete or bricks in fire prone areas. These houses just provide fodder to fires!

scottV · November 21, 2008

tsk1979 wrote:

When I first came to California, I was very amazed to find houses, and even 2-3 story apartment complexes made of wood!
In India, wood is almost never used, except in floorings of very expensive houses since its considered to be luxury.
So all houses are mostly made of bricks, and bigger ones and apartments are made of Concrete blocks.
So no change of fire doing anything to the structure unless you have done heavy woodwork in the houses.
Why are houses in california made of wood? Is it significantly cheaper than concrete etc.,
In India, wood is very expensive, and therefore as a cheap and cost effective option bricks(fired in kilns) or concrete blocks called suparex are used.
Flooring is either cement(poor man), Ceramic tiles(meidum to high cost depending upon budget) or Marble(medium to high cost)

Won't it make sense for new construction to be done with concrete or bricks in fire prone areas. These houses just provide fodder to fires!

I think the wood construction is a combination of cost, for material and especially labor, and also earthquake safety.

Southern California Fires

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