As the Fires Continue to Rage...

Image from NBC Los Angeles channel 4 website. Click to connect to the complete story.

by Skip Cohen

In my first Reflections post of the new year last Sunday I wrote about optimism being a dying art. I pledged my loyalty to Alfred E. Neuman's school of "What, me worry?" and stated I was pushing Chicken Little out on his ass! I thought I was on solid ground as a full-fledged cheerleader for humanity in the year ahead, but then the fires broke out in the Palisades, where I loved living for just over seven years.

The fires haven't broken my goal as a cheerleader for humanity, but it's getting harder and harder to find the "silver lining." I've been obsessed with the fires, worrying about old neighbors, watching the news several times each day, and following the fire maps. Then, just as they seemed to be getting things more under control, the Santa Ana winds changed direction and picked up—it was back to square one.

​The winds have picked up, and the fire is headed toward other densely populated communities, such as Brentwood. The level of tragedy keeps ramping up with little end in sight as the finger-pointing stories in the news get more and more senseless. 

But through all of the chaos, I couldn't be more proud of our industry because it's imaging that's kept the world in touch with the tragedy. From video to still images like the one above, photojournalism has been working overtime to bring us the story. And while I feel like I'm trapped in a movie I just don't want to see, the impact of each story is heightened by the human elements of courage and dedication from thousands of firefighters and first responders.
 
One of the early stories from the Palisades fire showed firefighters helping to salvage personal belongings from homes before they were completely lost, and photo albums were at the top of the pile of salvaged items. That got Sheila and I talking about what we'd do if we lost everything. We've had the conversation before as Hurricanes Helene and Milton rolled through Florida. I'm still not sure what we'd do, where we would go, or if we'd rebuild, etc. That conversation is now a reality for thousands of homeowners in California, many without fire insurance!

I apologize for this rambling rant this morning. I'm not sure what my point is beyond my frustration and sadness about not being able to do much to help old friends and neighbors in the Palisades. However, there are plenty of ways to help. Click on the image to the right, and it will link to the story on Instagram.

Wishing everybody a safe and peaceful day ahead. Take the time to consider what you'd do if your future was suddenly altered and you lost everything you own in some sort of disaster. Think about the heartbreak and how the value of your memories would go beyond priceless. Then find somebody you love and go for those eleven-second hugs I've written about every Sunday for the last ten years!

Make it a great Sunday or Monday on the other side of the world. And to everyone in southern California, our prayers and thoughts are with you.

---