Labor Day? More Like Labor Week

This past week has been one for the books. Monday, which is typically the care-free end of the week was absolutely crazy. The day started off as any other Monday; slow with a few random assignments, but it would end unlike any day to date. Around 5 p.m. Monday evening a storm started to roll in over the typically bright blue skies. You could actually see a plume of dust rolling in from the west, which made me a little nervous.


My nerves proved to be valid as the cloud of dust brought with it wind gusts around 60 mph. Around 7 p.m. a fire started in a field of sagebrush bordering a southwest Boise subdivision and by 7:15 p.m. the blaze had rushed up the hill catching seven high end homes on fire. The blaze would continue to rage for the next 45 minutes and once the fire had been contained 10 houses had been totally destroyed and another 9 had been seriously damaged.

I was instructed to rush to the scene well after the fire had been started, around 8:15 p.m. By the time I had arrived on the scene Boise Police had completely shut down the area, preventing me from getting anywhere near the fire. After running through random neighborhoods for roughly 20 minutes I decided I would head to the local church where some of the displaced homeowners had gathered.

I almost always hate having to follow through with my job in these situations because there is so much emotion. This time, like many others, I hid myself behind my camera and pretended like I wasn't there so that I could document the scene. This was the only photo I could bring myself to take.


The next day I was able to pick up a freelance assignment with the Associated Press, which turned out to be exactly what I needed. I drove down to Silver City, which is a true Idaho ghost town. I was instructed to meet a rural rancher who had received a satellite phone from the BLM in order to help alert land managers of wildfires near Silver City. It was an absolutely gorgeous day in some absolutely beautiful country.

Now, football season has begun to consume my life. Last night I shot a local prep football game, which was the first of many games to come I am sure. Tonight the Boise State Broncos are playing Idaho State in Boise so I will spend all night at Bronco Stadium. Here is a shot a friend of mine shot of a local photographer and I working the sideline at the prep game last night.


And yes, I am working all of Labor Day weekend. Ironic?