Paul Kuroda

Photographer

Wildfires

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Biography: Photojournalist Paul Kuroda is passionate about documenting people living on the margins. Mining his home state of California, he has told the stories of terrors faced by Asian and Latino gangs, of struggles endured by migrant farmworkers, and of... MORE

With 9,639 wildfires this year,...if. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020.

With 9,639 wildfires this year, firefighters are overworked and understaffed. Anytime for rest is used. Firefighter Tyler Waldon and others from a Willits Strike team sleep after 22 days 24-hour shifts with only a couple 12-hours off breaks in Angwin, Calif. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020.

Terry Kifer and Seth Sandstrom ... Lake, Calif. on Sept. 6, 2020.

Terry Kifer and Seth Sandstrom rushing to protect the 430 boats at the Sierra Marina as the Creek Fire approaches in Shaver Lake, Calif. on Sept. 6, 2020.

Firefighter strike forces retre...lif. on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020.

Firefighter strike forces retreat from windblown flames at the Glass fire in Calistoga, Calif. on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020.

Joel Sanchez,left, and Angel Ho...alif. on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020.

Joel Sanchez,left, and Angel Horta of the Kern Valley Hot Shots rests after a night battling the Creek fire in Shaver Lake, Calif. on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020.

A PG&E contractor, Steve Wi...lif. He had died at the scene.

A PG&E contractor, Steve Wilkes, receives CPR from after he was found slumped in his seat by a resident in the neighborhood on Gates Canyon Drive during the Lightning Complex fire on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 in Vacaville, Calif. He had died at the scene.

Captain Matt Caffe walks throug...lif. on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020.

Captain Matt Caffe walks through burned grass from the Glass in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020.

Pat King with daughter Torin,13...lif. on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020.

Pat King with daughter Torin,13, in back, to wave flash light to cars, lead their horse, Windy Aim, for over three-hours from their ranch to safety because it wouldn’t go into their trailer in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020.

A homeowner crys after watching...lif. on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020.

A homeowner crys after watching his home burn by the Glass in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020.

A cow, a victim of the Lightnin...f. on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020.

A cow, a victim of the Lightning Complex fire in Vacaville, Calif. on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020.

Interstate 80 traffic is reopen... 19, 2020 in Vacaville, Calif.

Interstate 80 traffic is reopened after a shutdown to put out fires during the Lightning Complex fire on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020 in Vacaville, Calif.

Kevin Pow is covered with ash f... thousands of homes destroyed.

Kevin Pow is covered with ash from the Bear fire after cleaning around a gas station in Oroville, Calif. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. California sustained its worst area-wide fire season, resulting into fatalities of residents and firefighters, thousands of homes destroyed.

A firefighter from the Kern Val...alif. on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020.

A firefighter from the Kern Valley Hotshots rest in the transport van at Shaver Lake, Calif. on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020.

Private Story

Wildfires

Copyright Paul Kuroda 2024

Updated Mar 2022

Summary

Wildfires

The new evil in Northern California is a regular killer of residents and firefighters seasonally with the onset of global warming. Overworked firefighters numbers far short of what is needed to fight the fast-moving flames burning entire towns, neighborhoods, and forests. This essay features the death of Steve Wilkes, a PG&E contractor who died restoring power to a burned-out neighborhood.