Your comments are a real insight into the fire service - thanks! As for the photo, fantastic detail and the contrast between fire and snow is great. The effect with the heat is interesting... I must experiment with it sometime. David
Yeah, I suppose a straight stream from a 2 1/2" line might be a little hard on a camera. Oh, and you as well;-) Looks cold to.
I actually just got home from another structure fire, a house this time, followed immediatly by a motor vehicle accident. My gear is still damp from the resturant fire, which felt less than great with the temp about 16 degrees this morning. Stay safe (and dry if at all possible)!
Thanks for your detailed explanation about the firefighter's training. It's one of those things that I'll bet most people just take for granted. It's interesting how you can use the same building over and over again for training, which kind of makes sense when you give it a little thought. Fire fighting can be an extremely dangerous career and I have a lot of respect for those of you who do it for the rest of us.
Greening Andre, Thank you for your comments, the effects of the heat signatures have very interesting effects. Actual the fire department is contacted routinely by the owners of buildings and at their request we will burn them down We perform a community service for our citizens and at the same time are able to give our fireman realism training. It is easier to burn it down than pay to demolish it and haul it away. Not all buildings are suitable for training,, the one pictured here was more like light the torch and run, This was a very old, dried out building and not safe to do what is called evolution training, where a team would light an interior fire, let it burn for a bit and let the room fill with smoke (some of the new ones tend to panic at this point, its very scary to be in a smoke filled room in black out conditions and all you can see is flames) depending on the curriculum training of the day, you may drop to you knees and have to follow the hose line out to safety or you may be part of what is called an interior attack team, and put the fire out. This process will be repeated may times to give all the fireman a chance for this type of realism training. Some building are suitable to train in for weeks, not only just the interior fire attack, but leaning how to properly vent the roof during a fire and practice with all our gear, ropes, and learn to set ladders ect. Some buildings we may us for weeks before letting them burn to the ground.
Greeting Robert Relived to hear that you are alright. The seriousness of your situation with the roof collapsing could have been deadly; thankfully you are all right with only a new scar to show for your heroism. All days that our fireman comes home from work are a GREAT Day!
If that fireman opened that line, I would have been knocked off my feet, soaking wet, and have to buy a new camera, Darn; I do want a new camera!! Best Regards, Sandra
That is an interesting effect that the heat gives to the picture. One side of the barnboard sharp and the other half through the heat haze. I had something similar happen when taking shots through a campfire at people on the other side. BTW the about says Training in this series. Is that how firefighters train by finding old places to set on fire to practice on? (excuse my ignorance) Andre
Ooh, I can smell the smoke now. I mean I can really smell smoke, in my hair, my watch and on my skin. Spent almost an hour in a burning resturant today, until the roof collapsed on us and we had to pull out. Got a nice new helmet scar and nobody was really hurt, so it was a good day.
As for your image, I really like the different perspective you shot from here. This is not the usual firefighter photo and it's good to see your creative approach. If I have one critique, it's that I would like to see that charged line (2 1/2"?) opened up and in use, but I know you have to take what you can get in these situations. Oh, and their gear is just way too clean;-) Perhaps I should go take another shower now.
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