A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the California Wildfires- From a Photographer’s Lens

By: Brittany Bevis

For photographer and equine enthusiast, Lisa Daines, and thousands of other Southern California residents, it’s been an unbelievable week as an outbreak of wildfires have threatened countless homes, businesses, and lives. Daines is located just three miles from the coast in Carlsbad, about 40 minutes north of San Diego.

As a California local, she’s used to seeing the occasional wildfire or two. However, she never imagined a blaze of this scale could happen in her very own backyard.

“We see wildfires on the news every few years,” Daines says. “Living in more of a suburban type area, we never expected one to flare up in our own backyard. The Poinsettia fire started in a canyon east of us. My husband and I saw the smoke and drove to take a look. We watched as within a half an hour it jumped a big four lane road and into the canyons surrounding our neighborhood. As soon as it jumped the road, we drove back to the house, stopping to alert neighbors along the way.”

“We packed up our cars with valuables, important papers, and our two dogs. Then, we decided to stay, watch, and photograph. Police were quickly coming through the neighborhood telling people to evacuate. Our house is not one of the ones that backs up to the canyon, so we weren’t quite as worried as some of our neighbors. The canyon wraps around our entire neighborhood, and we overlook the elementary and middle school that were also in the direct line of the fire.”

Thankfully, Daines’ home, family, dogs, and horses are all safe. Once she determined her loved ones were out of harm’s way, her journalistic side took over and she headed out to document the wildfires by photograph.

“It was an awesome sight to watch the fire come right up to the fences in people’s backyards.” she says. “At the time I was taking some of the photos, I thought for sure one entire street would be lost. My husband and I stood in a couple different backyards, a safe distance away, and watched the battle going on in the canyon as the fire headed toward the school and away from our neighborhood.”

“That’s when I got those amazing photos of the firemen with the blaze literally feet away from them. They had a successful fire break going for a bit. Then, the winds suddenly changed, and they had to run for their lives. It headed east directly back toward our homes again.”

That’s when Daines’ husband took a photo that’s been receiving quite a response on social media. It shows Daines in the foreground as the fire blazes on just a canyon away.

“We were not in any real danger, although it appears that way,” she says. “We were in a backyard and the car was right out front ready to hop in and go if needed. I’m not sure why I feel the need to document. I get a thrill from trying to capture a really moving or exciting moment. I want to capture the emotion of the wonderful and more dramatic times in our lives.”

“I would love to see if the firefighters would enjoy seeing my photos of them fighting the fire, or if they would rather not see how crazy they are! They are so wonderful and so brave. We got the chance to thank them personally, the day after, when at least five engines were still patroling our neighborhood and the canyons for flare ups.”

Despite the valiant efforts of the firefighters, not every home could be saved.

“We did lose one house in our neighborhood,” she says. “Tragically, we just got word that one of the migrant workers that lives in our canyon died in the fire. At times, we heard there have been 50 to 60 people living in the canyon. We have seen the same men walking into that canyon for many, many years, so I imagine they lost everything they had.”

Although evacuations orders have been lifted for some areas, others are still under threat from fires that continue to blaze. For the latest emergency updates, visit www.sdcountyemergency.com. If you live in California and need to talk to someone about evacuations, shelters, road closures and other disaster-related services, call 211.

Special thanks to Lisa Daines for sharing her images of the wildfires. Scroll below to view more.

Sidebar: Equine Evacuation Tips- During the 2007 CA fires, more than 2,700 animals including horses, donkeys, zebras, llamas and goats packed into the Del Mar Fairgrounds filling it to more than capacity. Check out these helpful equine evacuation tips from the staff at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

• Make sure horses have halters, lead ropes and water buckets.

• Make sure horses are identified. If your horse does not have their name on its halter, put duct tape on it with its name and your phone number. We’ve seen phone numbers painted on the sides and hooves of horses as well.

• If you have time, please load hay on your trailers. Hay delivery can be delayed if highways are closed due to the fires.

• Pack general first aid supplies, such as antiseptic ointments and bandaging materials.