Local Photographer Takes Up Firefighting

By Sage Van Wing (OPB)
Sept. 3, 2015 4:07 p.m.
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Alan Thornton's photography career has taken him from the deserts of the southwest to Turkey to Cambodia. But there was one shot he could never get close enough to really capture: a forest fire.

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Courtesy of Alan Thornton

This spring, Thornton took a wildland firefighting course so he could take pictures from the front lines. He ended up with much more than just a shot. He's found a new job as well.

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Thornton had always been interested in firefighting, "but I always figured that I was never a big athlete and I never really felt like I was cut out to do something like that."

What Thornton most feared? "The dreaded pack test." This test requires prospective firefighters to hike 3 miles wearing 45lbs of gear in under 45 minutes. As it turned out, even at 42 years old, Thornton was fit enough.

After getting certified, Thornton was offered a job. He says his age and experience were actually a plus: "The physical component is one huge element, but there's a huge mental component too. There's a lot of guys who are in great, amazing shape...but once you put fire in their face, it becomes a whole different ball game."

Thornton soon learned what it was like to work the front lines of a wildfire. He worked on the Stouts, Cougar, and Corner Creek fires this season. At first, he had to turn off the photographer part of his brain. "I didn't want my boss and my crewmates to think: 'This is the guy who's going to be constantly walking around snapping selfies.'"

Eventually, however, Thornton realized that his crew really wanted him to be taking pictures. "My engine boss ... would come over and be like 'Hey Thornton, this would be a great photo! Get a shot of it.' And I'd be like 'Oh, oh is that OK right now? Cool. Let me put the tool down and get a camera out.'"

Think Out Loud spoke with Thornton while he was back in Portland on a two day break before being called up for another fire. Even though he had yet to do his laundry and still had a number of commercial photography gigs to get to, Thornton says there is no doubt in his mind that he'll go back to fight fires again next season. "Greatest job in the world. Without a doubt."

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