It was the end of a long day and I had put in time working two different jobs when the scanners literally erupted at work. I had just texted my husband that I was about to leave as the scanners kept blaring. When I heard someone request a ladder truck from Maple Plain, as the only person in the newsroom, I knew I had to go.So, some part-time sports shooter gave me his gear (different department, can't go) and I set out to cover an apartment fire. The complex was literally burning to the ground and I could see the smoke all the way from I-695 Maple Grove. (The fire was in Plymouth, off 55, about 5 miles away.) As I kept trying to get in touch with a photographer and my news director, I couldn't help but pray I wouldn't embarrass myself in front of the photogs from all the big stations-- afterall, I hadn't shot on a camera like this since graduate school 7 years ago. And, the photogs up here always tighten the tripod legs so tight I can never get them unscrewed myself. I thought, please, please, please help me not have to ask someone to unscrew a tripod leg. Oh, please, please let the lighting be okay.
Luckily for my sake, the firefighters didn't get the fire under control for about one and a half hours, so I was able to reasonably figure out what I was doing and get some good shots. A photographer who lived nearby showed up. I reeked of smoke and my heels are about ruined, but the job got done. I even ran into Chris Cruise, a fellow Shreveport TV-alum, who was covering the fire. He was equally appreciative that someone decided to start a fire right before he left work. Isn't that the way it always works?
2 comments:
OKay, while the apartment may have been literally burning to the ground, there's no way the scanners were literally erupting.
If they had been, you would have had a much bigger story right there in your newsroom.
Once an editor, always an editor.
okay, okay. Would erupting with information be more accurate?
perhaps "blaring" would have been a better choice?
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