This is the second posting of this video -- the posting yesterday, January 24, seems to be not showing up now so here it is again, a tribute to my friend Benett Kessler: When wind-whipped, lightening-sparked wildfires roared through the central Owens Valley in the Eastern Sierra of California in early July, 2007, Benett Kesslers long-time home in Independence was threatened by flames and she had to evacuate her property with just a few books, some personal photos and her cat Tuxedo. Fortunately the winds shifted and she was able to return home later in the day; her home, and the small town of Independence, remained undamaged by the wildfires still raging a few miles to the north and west. This is Benetts television news report on what became known as the Inyo Complex Wildland Fire from Eastern Sierra News, Monday, July 9, 2007, recorded off-air from KSRW TV33 in Bishop. Benett shot the dramatic close-up video of these wildfires when she was a media passenger in a CHP car on Friday, July 6, that was patrolling Highway 395 closed by the fires from Independence to Big Pine, twenty-six miles to the north. Benetts moving account of this 38,000 acre wildfire becomes personal as she describes her own thoughts of having to leave her home of more than thirty years as flames raced east towards Independence on Saturday, July 7th. When news became personal, Benett became a voice for all of the Inyo county residents whose homes were threatened by these fast-moving flames. Fortunately, no homes were damaged but several firefighters sustained minor injuries and were transported to the Fresno Burn Center by helicopter and all returned to duty after a few days of treatment.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 07:13:58 +0000
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