[aaron313]

So I was heading back to the East Bay, when I saw smoke. It was very black, so I thought "Oh ****, something is on fire, and the blaze just started." I started following the smoke, and traveled probably two miles. I thought from the perceived location a Taco Bell was on fire, but then I could tell it was residential. Well, I wasn't going to let somebody's house just burn down without at least seeing if fire engines had shown up. But cops had closed off the street, so I decided to park and see if I could get closer. There was a huge crowd gathered, and as I got closer, there was a raging fire in the house's garage:







As the fire department and police and paramedics had everything under control, there's nothing I could do but document it. Apparently the man of the house was working on a model airplane in his garage, when something caught fire. I saw at least one explosion, so perhaps another explosion started the blaze. If there's one thing I've learned first hand from witnessing near tragedies, it's that if you escape with your life, who really cares about the house (or car)?

 

[Wildsurfer]

How can you take pictures of this ? How can you stare at the fire like if it was a show ? That's sick.

 

[fraseyboy]

I often think twice about full stops.

 

[nor_spoon]

That looks like a very small image to me.

 

[aaron313]

I had posted pictures of a house burning that I captured. The first responder said it was sick, so I removed it. It's not as though I was cheering it on, but I reconsidered for now.

 

[nor_spoon]

Ok. Sick or not. I do not know. Oh well... next thread

 

[krmathis]

I don't see the problem.
If someone have called the fire department and done what's needed to help trapped people (if some), then its not much more to assist with. Hence taking a picture is fine... For me that is.

 

[aaron313]

Okay, I'll post then.

 

[rei_yano]

I saw a house burn down once. my neighbors house when I lived with my grandma. All the windows exploded and inside there were a few mini explosions. the heat could be felt even far off into the street. the family was speechless but you could see that they were traumatized and its sad however all I could do is stare and watch with them. it was intense. the day after the smell was just awful. I cant even describe it. smelled like they used dead animals for insulation. several weeks after the fire the house was still there and so me and my cousin thought it would be a good idea to go in and check out the place. I was like 9 so we thought maybe it was haunted or something. instead we found plush dolls, pornography, and a twenty. we left the plush dolls....

 

[Wildsurfer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krmathis /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't see the problem. If someone have called the fire department and done what's needed to help trapped people (if some), then its not much more to assist with. Hence taking a picture is fine... For me that is.

If everything's been taken care of, why stay and stare ? Of course it doesn't change anything, but what's the point in watching people's life burning ? It's a hard time for them, if you don't know them they don't need you staring at them or "documenting" their story on the internet.
Do you also stop when there's been an accident on the road and the medics are already there, just to see ?

 

[aaron313]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wildsurfer /img/forum/go_quote.gif If everything's been taken care of, why stay and stare ? Of course it doesn't change anything, but what's the point in watching people's life burning ? It's a hard time for them, if you don't know them they don't need you staring at them or "documenting" their story on the internet. Do you also stop when there's been an accident on the road and the medics are already there, just to see ?

I only stopped for about five minutes. And it was mostly just the garage. Plus, the guy escaped with his life. When my roommate was almost killed in a car accident, we didn't exactly give a **** about the car. And about documenting, it's a free country over here. And spectators documenting is nothing new. It's not like I took pictures of a corpse and posted it on the internet.

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wildsurfer /img/forum/go_quote.gif If everything's been taken care of, why stay and stare ? Of course it doesn't change anything, but what's the point in watching people's life burning ? It's a hard time for them, if you don't know them they don't need you staring at them or "documenting" their story on the internet. Do you also stop when there's been an accident on the road and the medics are already there, just to see ?

Well, you have a point.
But with fire department, police and paramedics at the scene I don't see that a couple of spectators presence make a lot of difference. As long as they don't block or interfere with the rescue work.

 

[progo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wildsurfer /img/forum/go_quote.gif How can you take pictures of this ? How can you stare at the fire like if it was a show ? That's sick.

In case you didn't know the fire has some weird properties. Humans just can't help staring at it. I think it comes from some neanderthalian times.

 

[Edwood]

I see no problem in posting pics like these.

If anything it's a great reminder for fire safety and evacuation preparedness.

-Ed

 

[aaron313]

Quote:

Originally Posted by progo /img/forum/go_quote.gif In case you didn't know the fire has some weird properties. Humans just can't help staring at it. I think it comes from some neanderthalian times.

Fires are simply hypnotic.