CANALS

Look familiar?

New Mexico

I've run into firefighters from New Zealand, Wisconsin, etc., but was yet to run into my people from New Mexico. That was until yesterday, when I ran into the Gila Hotshots. Problem is, they didn't know that the media in California can pretty much go anywhere we want. I showed up and they got super scared and pretty much escorted me out. It wasn't worth dragging it out, but the Forest Service got a piece of my mind later that night for not letting people know the rules. I drove 200 miles and came back with 20 frames. That makes me mad.

A Moment of Silence

At 7 p.m. last night, all firefighters on the Iron Complex (the complex of fires where the helicopter crashed) stopped working and took a minute to remember the firefighters who died in the crash. This crew was out working on the west end of Buckhorn Fire. The helicopter went down on the north end of the same fire.

From the sky

We went up to try and get photos of the helicopter crash site outside of Redding. It was too smokey and they wouldn't let us below 10,000 feet because other aircraft were in the area. But another photographer was able to get in yesterday. I pray fire season ends soon so everyone can go home safe.

We run on a lot of breaking news

YOGA

I hiked nine miles into the Trinity Alps Wilderness to do a story about firefighters who camp out for up to 10 days and battle a blaze burning through very steep forest near a bunch of old gold mines. All together it was 25 miles of hiking in two days and took every ounce of strength in me. Yoga probably would have helped.

The President is Coming, The President is Coming

These fires have put us on the map. Two huge cargo planes and several helicopters landed in Redding today in preparation for the President's visit.

EVACUEE

She spent the night watching TV, pacing the road and sleeping on the front porch of the town store because the fire prevented her from returning to her house.

I Love Planes

Except when they drop fire retardant on you.

And the sky fell.....

The photo staff was just hauled into a meeting and told that one of our positions was almost cut to half time. Then they said that they had figured a way to keep all three of us at full time. We, the photographers, are now on the cops reporting rotation. For one week at a time, we are responsible for coming in at 7 a.m. and writing cops briefs.

I'll let you decided what you think about that.

AND THE WINDS CAME

They were getting the fires under control until the winds came.

MORE

TIRED

Some of the fires are not supposed to be out until August.

Burn California, Burn......

There are like 1,000 forest fires in this state at the moment.

GAY MARRIAGE

Shasta County joined the rest of California yesterday by legally marrying same-sex couples for the first time.

COUNTY FAIR

GRADUATION

A(F)PAD

I'm going to start a new photo website called A Fire Photo A Day. Who wants to join? If you live in California you should have no problem coming up with at least one a day. Today I think we ran on four?

Anyone think ML will help me get the site started?

FRITZ

Northern California is catching fire like 10 times a day. At the small brush fire today, I tried to channel a little Craig Fritz of the Albuquerque Tribune but didn't even get close.

Nonetheless, I want to thank Craig for making the ordinary interesting and inspiring the rest of us to try.

OUTSIDE

My friend Eli came up for a long weekend and we got out. Out to the lake, out to some fishing, and out on top of a mountain. More pictures to come, but the first round is from today when we climbed Lassen Peak, 10,457 feet.

There is just something about mountains......