Holy Fire - an evening photographing one of California’s wildfires

Aug. 9th I spent the first part of the day at Riverside National Cemetery, saying farewell to my uncle Rob - a proud member of the Marine Crops family. It was a tough day for me, he was so much a part of my life, my cousins - hell everyone’s. 

As often is the case when I don’t know how to deal with certain things, or when I need to think about something I often like to get in my car and drive - go somewhere and make some photographs. 

I’m currently working on a project about fires in the state and decided to drive to the Holy Fire, in Lake Elsinore, Calif. The fire’s cause was arson, https://lat.ms/2N49dVd. I started my drive at 7pm, as the sun was still up. As I closed in on the fire’s location, smoke and ash started to fill the sky, causing day to turn to night… 


Smoke and ash fill the sky, turning the daylight to darkness as traffic drives south on Interstate 15.

Residents look at a phone to check surveillance cameras on their home as the Holy Fire approaches.

The Holy Fire burns as traffic on Interstate 15 passes just below the Cleveland National Forest.

A streak of light from a helicopter can be seen as it makes water drops on the Holy Fire from across Lake Elsinore.

The Holy Fire seen from across Lake Elsinore.

A family sits along the shore of Lake Elsinore and watches the Holy Fire burn the Cleveland National Forest.

Palm trees are backlit by the Holy Fire as it burns in the Cleveland National Forest in Lake Elsinore, Calif.

King Bass, left, and his sister Princess sit on top of their parents’ car as they watch the Holy Fire burn in Lake Elsinore, Calif.
Holy-Fire Fire Wildland-Fire California Cal-Fire CalFire Lake-Elsinore Firefighters Fire-Season Lake Photography Photojournalism Documentary Documentary-photography
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