Having an interest in the prairies of the American Midwest, I’ve wanted to photograph a prairie wildfire for many years. These fires are important to the health of the prairies, but as one can imagine, they are very dangerous to be around. So I opted to seek out some local organizations that are trained in the controlled burning of prairies, or as I learned “Prescribed Burning”.
Having recently discovered Nachusa Grasslands about an hour south of where I live, I contacted the Friends of Nachusa Grasslands, a group of volunteers that manage the preserve. They were very receptive to my request to document a Prescribed Fire and put me in contact with the Burn Boss.
I spent an entire day out with the teams. I sat in on their morning training session and listened to their safety briefs. In the field, it was a day of meeting new people, learning what they do, and documenting the event. All while trying to stay out of the heat, smoke, and ash.
So, what did I learn from this experience?
1) You are not in control. These fires are dangerous. They are incredibly hot and they move fast. You have to listen to the professionals and do what they say.
2) You have to protect your camera as well as yourself. There is a lot of heat, smoke, and ash, all of which the camera does not like. Several times I had to stop making photos and walk away from the fire. I also had to clean my camera many times during the day.
3) Sometimes you have to let an image go or take something less dramatic. No photo is worth the safety of yourself, people around you, or any animals in the area. What good is a photo if you aren’t alive to look at it?
4) Carry an orange safety vest with you when documenting dangerous situations. I was in my street clothes the entire day. Basically a gray jacket and blue jeans. And while I was never in any danger and was in constant contact with the fire teams, I feel a little more visibility would have been nice.
5) Keep a couple bottles of water in your camera bag. You are out in the sun basically hiking the entire day. Not to mention you are exposed to extreme temperatures from time to time. You need water to stay hydrated. Energy bars come in hand too. Luckily, I thought of this one before the day started, so I was prepared.
I want to thank the Friends of Nachusa Grasslands for allowing me the opportunity to photograph a Prescribed Fire. In particular, Bill Kleiman (Burn Boss), Susan Kleiman, and Bernie Buchholz were all a big help in answering my questions out there and in keeping me safe. I look forward to working with them again.