Covering A Tragedy With Dignity

In earlier Hubs I have stressed the importance of compassion when covering emergency incidents. In this article I am going to address the personal stress and emotional impact this field has on us as photographers. True spot news is an adrenaline rush and a very exciting career. However, nothing can prepare us for the unexpected and what we will see and have to report. It can be devastating and unfortunately as a freelancer, you really don't have a professional outlet to debrief. Hopefully this article will help you to deal with your emotions and experiences.

I grew up as the son of a Firefighter in Brookline, Massachusetts. Ever since I can remember I was in a firehouse hanging with my second family. By the time I was 10 I was was looking up run assignments, knew fire communications and was riding with my Dad. The thrill was incredible! At the age of 13 I was chasing fire engines with a camera in hand. A career was born!

Now that i have been shooting professionally for 24 years, there is not much I have not seen. However, on August 29, 2007 I had my first real experience dealing with covering a fire where 2 Firefighters were killed. It was the first time I felt helpless and confused. As I was watching the scene unfold before me, my thoughts were this can't be happening!! This is not real!! These are my friends and like family to me so if I turn around and look back all will be ok.Unfortunately the scene was very real and not a dream. To this day I can see the scenes playing out in my mind just as if they happened last night.

The fire took place just after 9pm on a warm summer's night at 1727 Centre Street in the West Roxbury section of Boston. I was at home listening to the scanners and working on my computer. The call didn't sound like much so I kept on going about my business. Then all Hell broke loose and I heard a 2nd alarm being transmitted. The fire was literally 4 minutes from my house so I grabbed my gear and hopped in my car. Once at the end of my street you could smell the smoke and then it got thicker as I approached the scene. My fire radio was now blaring with a Firefighter's Emergency Button being activated. This caused me to pay closer attention but knew that the buttons get activated easily as they are on the hand microphone clipped on a turnout coat. They get bumped and activated from the movements of the Firefighter and the usual reply over the radio was "it's accidental I'm OK".

I arrived at the scene and there was a moderate amount of smoke emanating from the block of stores. I got my few "grab shots" that show the overall scene and then moved closer to the fire building. The fire was spreading into other sections of the block but all seemed "routine" if there is such a thing at a fire. It was about 5 minutes after I arrived that everything started to deteriorate. I looked at the front door of the Tai Ho Restaurant where the fire originated and saw what took me what seemed forever to comprehend. Two Firefighters were being carried out and I will never forget watching a District Chief start CPR and then continue as the Firefighter was rushed into an ambulance. Then I realized another Firefighter was also in cardiac arrest.

Emotionally I was devastated and I remember turning around and shaking. I did not know who the Firefighters were until later but I felt a huge sense of personal loss. I walked away behind a store across the street from the fire and literally cried. I knew I had to put my photography to work now to let the public know what had happened. I did it for my friends, my family, my brothers and for all Firefighters. I also hated the task before me but that served as my motivation to do it well.

The next week was spent listening to news reports, talking with Firefighters, revisiting the scene, trying to make sense of madness and preparing for the impending massive funerals. The busier we all were was in itself a form of dealing with the tragedy. My job was to document all of this from beginning to end and that was going to be my therapy.

I still drive by the fire site daily and still feel a shiver. I have been to several fires since that night and I now am somewhat prepared for the unexpected. My healing comes from doing my job to the best of my ability and talking with friends and colleagues.