December 5, 2004
One of the most important things a fire photographer must learn is on scene operations for the fire ground, accident scenes and Hazardous Materials incidents. Fire Fighters and emergency personnel have enough to worry about at the scene of an emergency and do not need to be concerned with a photographer putting himself or herself in harms way and adding to their worries.
Collapses
are real hazards that photographers must be aware of. Here a roof caves
in at a 5 alarm fire in Newton , MA.
A Fire Fighter and Police Officer had to repeatedly
remove these people from the zone and finally one person was removed completely
from the scene or face arrest. This behavior will definitely not ingratiate
one self to public safety personnel. Rule one, a photo is not worth having
a porch land on your head. Trust me, it will hurt...a lot. Secondly, if
you get arrested for interfering in a public safety incident, your future
as a fire photographer is over plain and simple.
Steve Walsh photo Accident scenes offer different hazards to watch out for. Several public safety officers have been struck by vehicles while operating at a motor vehicle accident. Just because you are there as a photographer does not make you off limits for being hit by oncoming traffic. Always park off the road whenever possible and if you are on a highway, put your hazard lights on. A reflective vest or coat with reflective striping should be worn to increase visibility. If you have been issued a set of turnout gear by your department, wear it by all means. Not only will this give you visibility but offers protection as well from many hazards. Watch out for fluid run off from vehicles as these present a fire hazard if a spark touches them off. You will notice that Fire Fighters always have a charged line ready when using the Jaws or other extrication equipment that might set off a spark. Most importantly, do what you are told at the scene. Following simple instructions and using your head will allow you to build the reputation of a professional with the Fire Department which is something you'll need for your future endeavors. Over the years I have seen and done some stupid things at an emergency scene which could have been prevented by just simply paying attention and using commons sense. Winter fires present icing hazards and if you are so caught up in rushing to the building a getting your camera ready, chances are you are gonna go ice skating without skates and end up with a sore butt and broken camera when you fall. Rushing around and not paying attention can also lead to you doing a triple flip, double axle swan dive that would make an Olympic Gymnast jealous when you trip over a charged hose line. When you fall, there will be about a hundred people that saw what happened and you have just become the fire ground klutz. The best way to learn about emergency scene operations is to simply respond to as many scenes as you can. Contact the training officer for your local fire department and ask if you can observe drills. This offers you a chance to not only learn tactics but also get some experience photographing action. When at the scene, dress for it. If you perform duties for your department and are authorized to be inside the lines, request permission to be issued a set of turnout gear and a helmet. Have the gear and helmet carry markings stating you are a photographer to prevent confusion at a scene. Use your scanner or 2-way radio to monitor conditions so you can be aware of hazards. Most importantly, use you HEAD!! There is no substitute for simple common sense in any situation you find yourself in. Happy Shooting!!!!!!! E-mail Fire Photography News Read
Steve's prior article
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