Coming home from a quick ride up the Interstate to pick up a couple of gifts and grab a meal, we saw flashing lights to our right and quickly discovered it was a fire.  We found a way behind a service station and were able to park and walk closer to the fire.  Where was my camera?  Where WAS my camera!   That one night I left at home.  I could hear my often repeated words, “It is just in case something happens”.  This time, something did happen and the “just in case” camera was at home.  By the time I did get home and got back to the fire, most was under control and there was little drama in the fire itself. 

Earlier, large flames appearing as living entities would shoot up from the roof or from a window. As soon as one appeared forced down, another flew violently from another opening cut into the old house.  Fire in action like that is a dominating creature;  in this old house it seemed a gang of fire demons were hiding to take the place of another instantly.   

The drama was not so much the fire, most of which I missed on photos but witnessed.  The drama was seeing a woman I know and realizing this 107 year old wood frame building was the home of the business where she worked.  A daughter also worked there and many other people.  This real estate business had files and computers on the second floor and when fire demons were not licking the air in there, countless gallons of water deluged everything from the roof to ground level.  The real pain was knowing the difficulty the business would now face and how file recovery might in some cases not be possible.

With the initial excitement came a note of sadness and encouragement for those suffering the loss.

 

What might look sound on the second floor from the outside view is actually gutted inside.

Earlier, where the ladder hose sprays water into the window area and below the roof, large flames were whisking out and preventing closer encounters.

The roof is not seen behind the tree. Indeed, much is only burnt trusses.  Large flames emerged from the roof earlier, taking the roof and opening to the sky.  That drama is lost in this photo after those flames were subdued.

The right side was the last to come under control.  The apparently feeble squirt of water to the image right is only a lull.  Water was being recircuited to the hoses.

At least in this shot is a touch of humor with such a pitiful squirt while fire was coming out the right side of the building.   The hose was full force into the structure but for this moment... 

Nice shots.  I feel really sorry for the victims though.

This is absolutely terrible for the victims.

 

This type of work is hard. You have to detach yourself from personal feelings to capture what's going on. Really great job !

Stunning captures Tom.

Sad for the damage my friend.

God Bless.