Virtual Gallery: Real/Time: Art of the Moment – Tested By Fire
Napa Valley photographer and journalist Tim Carl has captured the beauty and devastation of the Napa Valley and Sonoma County wildfires for several years, creating vivid portraits of communities under siege. His photographs and videos are a testament to the awesome power of nature to destroy, and bear witness to the enduring will of our communities to survive and rebuild – a visual essay on the resilience of the human spirit tested by fire.
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The 2020 California Wildfire season has set unprecedented records. More than 7,800 fires have ignited and 3.7 million acres burned. 26 lives lost. The air quality in many parts of the state has been unhealthy for weeks. We continue to watch the skies and hope the worst of this year’s wildfire season is behind us.
The Kincade Fire was both the largest fire of the 2019 fire season and the largest fire ever recorded in Sonoma County. More than 78,000 acres were ravaged by fire. Fortunately no lives were lost as close to 200,000 people fled the communities of Geyserville, Healdsburg and Windsor.
When reflecting on the night the 2017 Wine Country Fires began, many would recall the strange energy that hung in the air. The following morning, those who had not fled their homes in the middle of the night woke and learned of the devastation along Mark West Springs, Coffey Park, and Atlas Peak.
A State of Emergency was declared, power outages ensued, and communities suffering loss of life and displacement somehow marched forward in search of a path to return home and rebuild. In the end, 44 lives were lost and at least 245,000 acres burned.
Passing the one year anniversary of the 2017 Northern California Wildfires without fire incident may have brought momentary relief to some. However, when news broke of the Camp Fire in Butte County, hearts in Bay Area counties did as well. The horror of what had occurred in the town of Paradise was beyond comprehension. 88 lives were lost and more than 153,000 acres burned. The smoke suspended over Napa County was an ominous indication to residents that while they had been spared, another community had fallen victim to relentless wildfires.
While viewing pictures, you can click on the buttons in the lower left corner of your screen to Auto Play, See More Information, and Share:
Please click on the videos below to watch as fire events unfold minute by minute. Click the expand symbol in the lower right corner for optimal viewing.
