There have been more than 3,600 wildfires in California this year, the most recent Rocky Fire devouring some 50,000 acres and requiring 12,000 people to evacuate. Photographer Stuart Palley is right in the middle of it, documenting infernos across the state for the last three years.
The Los Angeles native has captured nearly 50 wildfires for his series Terra Flamma. Palley mostly shoots at night, making long exposures that pulse in a cosmic blaze of heat and color. It’s strange to be mesmerized by something so destructive, but he can't get enough. "I am fascinated by the way wildfires behaves," he says. "We’re in a historic drought and it’s important to create a visual record."
Palley is constantly checking weather forecasts and radio communications for fires. He also has firefighter friends that keep him in the loop. When Palley hears about a blaze he wants to cover, it’s often a race to get there in time. He once drove 10 hours to a rapidly spreading fire in the Sierras that was nearly extinguished when he arrived.
Once in the field, Palley goes where he pleases as California law grants media members access to natural disasters. Sometimes he shadows firefighter crews, especially if a situation gets chaotic and he doesn’t feel comfortable being out on his own. Other times he goes solo, shooting from his car on winding forest roads or hiking on foot in mountainous areas to capture the flames up close.
Unsurprisingly, the photographer often finds himself in risky situations. Palley's watched propane tanks and paint cans explode like fireworks. He once even had to duck for cover after ammunition started blasting off in a burning house. Individuals first to the blaze are the ones in the most peril. "Usually right when a fire starts and firefighters are scrambling to position themselves is when things can be dangerous," he says. "The fire is calling the shots and doing what it wants."
Palley does his best to stay safe. He never heads to a location without full safety gear, or Person Protective Equipment (PPE). It's the same suit wildland firefighters wear, decked out in special boots, helmet, goggles and nomex. Palley’s also taken a US Forest Service class on fire behavior so he can predict its next move. A radio helps him keep tabs on fire communications, and he never strays too far from his car in case the wind changes and he needs to make a run for it. If Palley ever needs a reminder of the dangers of his job, the proof is in his camera: smoke, ash, and dirt frequently cloud the sensor. “I have especially high repair bills, but unfortunately it goes with the territory,” he says.
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The photographer was out shooting at the Rocky Fire this past Friday, and was able to witness the destruction firsthand. "So far it's the biggest, worst fire of the year in Northern California," he says. Palley posts recent images on Instagram and says he will keep documenting year after year until the phenomenon subsides.
It’s all worth it to him if it raises awareness and inspires more people to prepare. Palley still thinks about the first wildfire he shot in 2012 while interning at The Orange County Register. "I remember arriving on scene and seeing a million-dollar house going up in flames," he says. "It was heartbreaking. Fire crews were pulling out any salvageable items — toolboxes, a Barbie car, pictures. The palm trees in the yard were burning like candles."
