About the Burned Essay

Remains of a fire - a portion of a melted computer keyboard.

I got the idea to photograph items from fires while covering the Harrisonburg Fire Department’s fire safety education display exhibited at the Valley Mall in the city each year.

I was struck by how many of the items look like some sort of modern art, even thought I know a tragedy was responsible for the weirdly textured, melted and charred items.

Every time I return to the scene of a fire with investigators for follow-up stories, I am moved by the destruction fire can cause. Seeing pieces of a family’s life burned and soaking wet is a humbling experience.  I’ve often thought that if more people could tour a home after a fire, they would be extra careful in their own homes.

While that is not possible, I decided to go for the next best thing. I hope people who see these photographs realize the devastation fire can cause, and it moves them to do everything they can to prevent fire in their own homes.