One of the worst fears of solo radio reporters in the field is recording interviews and sounds for a story only to come back to the studio to discover that sound was not recorded. I'll spare you details about why and how this can happen (operator error to equipment failure). But this past week as some people lost their homes and lives to the wildfires, I lost the ability to let them tell their stories.
I was near Dulzura shortly after 5 a.m. Monday, October 22 to cover the Harris Fire. I met with Julie Hutchinson with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection ( CAL FIRE ). She invited me to join her and about 50 other fire officials as they plotted their strategies for managing the fire. I was the only media person at this meeting which is not usually open to journalists. Reporters are briefed later. I recorded several interviews that explained the difficulties firefighters faced in battling the fire. Then I headed west on Highway 94 to Steele Canyon High School.
At the high school, I talked with many of the people that were among the first evacuated from the Harris fire. They had spent the night on cots in the gym. Many feared their homes would be lost. I recorded their worries, fears and thoughts. I talked with Red Cross volunteers, school officials, and other people now calling the gym their temporary home. I also captured sounds of the gusty winds. Later, I witnessed a town hall meeting with Howard Windsor, the CAL FIRE incident commander for the Harris fire. People sat in the bleachers using a wireless microphone to ask questions. I continued recording. I was given an opportunity for an interview with Windsor. We spent about 20 minutes talking about what would happen over the next few weeks, the problems in fighting this fire, and how CAL FIRE organizes to fight so many fires burning simultaneously. While we spoke, many of the people evacuated would break in to ask questions of Windsor. This too was recorded.
All the elements of telling the story: gusty winds (so prevalent during KPBS reporters' live reports from the field), fire officials, evacuated residents, sounds in the gym. Most important of these elements were the poignant stories I was bringing back to the studio. These elements would come together to give listeners a first-hand, on-scene account of the wildfires impact on southeast San Diego County and its residents. But, it was not to be. When I downloaded the audio, there was only silence. I was downhearted, almost physically sick. Those stories were not going to be heard (at least not the stories I had gathered). But other reporters would return to tell the stories of the people at Steele Canyon High School.
There was little time for me to mourn the loss of the audio. After all, there were still many miles to go and more stories to tell in a week that seemed like two weeks. Many people lost homes, pets, businesses and their lives. I only lost audio.
Sandra Taggart
November 11, 2007 at 09:10 PM
I live in Northern Ontario Canada with my American born husband.This story of the fires,then,to learn who was responsible was very alarming.Who is not teaching our children about matches and how it can destroy people's lives through acts of carelessness?
Isn't there enough problems with sending troups to other countries to get themselves killed,leaving behind homeless families without their father? We said, "War never again",and look at what's happening.
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Sandra Taggart
November 11, 2007 at 09:11 PM
I already did.
Sandra Taggart
November 11, 2007 at 09:40 PM
You keep putting add your comments and I'm not use to doing it and why I mentioned already did. So,I will continue with, We have well over a hundred people we are concerned about who have lost their jobs due to problems with the Forestry Industry. Their are also many people,counting the homeless,needing food to eat.
Food Banks are running out of food. Farmers and their problems,high cost of sending shipments here,feeding the elderly, so you aren't alone with having these problems.
Moe Smiley
November 15, 2007 at 06:16 AM
I work for a
san diego self storage company
and right now our
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is offering all displaced by the
San Diego fires
one month of free containerized storage space. Please visit http://www.bigbox.com for more details!
Thank you for supporting those in need!
