Four Alarm Georgia Theater Fire

Around 7 AM, a multi-alarm fire was called in at the Historic Georgia Theater in Athens, Ga. I found out about it around 745 and was out the door by 746 and on scene 10 minutes later. (Of course, my fiancee did call me for 15 minutes straight until i answered the phone. It was a day off)

The structure that was built in the 1930's was completely gutted. Roof collapsed early on, keeping firefighters from making an interior attack. The downtown power grid was off as the main power vault was underground in the vicinity of the structure. ACCFD was able to keep the structure from completely collapsing and burning to the ground. The walls are still standing and some of the rafters are still intact despite being very weak.

Something this big spot news wise means photos are going to have to be worked hard and fast. I needed to make quality, storytelling images fast beyond what the average person would get. Spot news does need to be exactly that, on the spot. But a compelling fire photo generally needs some decent composition or or at least artistic thought.

Saturday morning quarterback. I went up high but didn't even try and talk my way into the Bank of America building or onto the roof. Big mistake. Some people who worked in there got good images. Missed out on my tower/silhouette photo early on. Sun rose fast and i didn't get the picture i wanted. (That and a tree was in the way). And lastly, i ran out of the house without socks. I have blisters all over my feet. (And i'd have had better photos if i had answered the phone faster)

Here's how the front page looked.



Bottom left first-on-the-scene-photo by newsroom intern Allie Goolrick.



Thats my only picture with actual flame in it. I missed a flare up while walking around the giant block but got somewhat lucky when they opened up the front door to try and extinguish and save anything else in the front.



There's an interesting symmetry between the gracefulness of a a rainbow mixed with the abject destruction of a landmark being consumed by fire.



An Athens Clarke firefighter is treated by EMTs during the blaze. (No firefighters were hospitalized or injured that I heard about)



Wilmot Green, owner of the Georgia Theater, (white shirt) sits on a curb with firefighters across from the blaze.



Firefighters use aerial towers to fight the blaze. (Note, the city only owns three and all three were used during the blaze, just not in this photo)



Firefighters battle the blaze from street level.



Nothing like what i was trying to make.