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Photographer and model badly burned in blast
Jun 09 15 07:07 pm Link they don't drain the gas from cars in a salvage yard? it's just a bunch of gas bombs waiting to happen? yikes. Jun 09 15 07:58 pm Link ontherocks wrote: Fumes are enough. I worked at a gas station in Medway, Kent for a while. I could tell you some seriously messed up stuff about that. Jun 09 15 08:34 pm Link I shot in the same junk yard last week and I didn't smell any gas from anywhere. But all it takes is a few ounces to vaporize in a closed area and one spark. It was hot so any gas left in the gas tank (which may have been damaged in the accident that lead to the car being junked) would have vaporized and collected in the interior of the vehicle. Then the photographer LIT candles to be in the photograph and then boosh...there was a flash over that apparently engulfed the model, lit her dress and hair on fire. The rest is history. It's a real loss on so many levels, the owner would allow some photographers to use it as a location so that's now history, the other yards will use this as a reason to keep photographers out, some other locations (not junk yards) will use this as an excuse not to allow photographers for their own liability risk. The photographer is injured, the model is in critical condition with burns over 75% of the body and probably will not be able to model any more. All because some idiot comes up with an idea and didn't think it through, or didn't know enough about what he was planning. Fire, explosions, firearms, speeding cars, entering crumbling buildings... you have to know what you are doing or hire someone who does because when it goes bad, it goes really bad. Jun 09 15 08:35 pm Link Amadea and the Beast wrote: And Using Lighted Candles inside the gutted car. Jun 09 15 08:44 pm Link Really stupid especially with the heat down here. I know people that have accidentally lit themselves on fire with generators, pressure cleaners, gas grills ,etc -- and there was no open flame involved. It is just too damn easy for the vapor to ignite. I have gone off on people before for pumping gas with a lit cigarette -- I don't care if you want to die but excuse me if I don't want you to take me out with you. Lit flame is just asking for it. I hope they both make a full recovery. Poor girl -- burns over 80% over her body is a tough row to hoe. Jun 09 15 09:05 pm Link Chicchowmein wrote: If she survives. Chances are she might not make it. Jun 09 15 09:51 pm Link Jun 10 15 04:03 am Link Chicchowmein wrote: Patrick Walberg wrote: At 80% of the body surface burned... I think to remember that the chance of survival is slim to nothing, unfortunately! Jun 10 15 04:28 am Link Getting burned is some REALLY extensive pain, esp. when recovering. I didn't know this was possible... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jjPxgFmub8 Jun 10 15 07:18 am Link What a terrible accident. I hope for the most positive outcome possible for these two. Out of respect for the injured parties, who were part of our community, it would be nice to not pass judgement on their actions in this thread. Jun 10 15 07:49 am Link When I used to be a student studying and doing EMS, going back a decade now, burns are some of the most frightening to treat of all injuries (especially during motor vehicle accidents; ). There's all kinds of complications, going in and recovering from it... The process of recovery is going to be long, and very very difficult..from the sounds of it the bystanders were trying to use their hands to put out the fire. It doesn't take much of the body burnt in order for it to be life threatening. I don't even want to think of it.. but...80% of the body burnt... wow It is very sad.. it doesn't say if they were allowed there or not but, I would wonder if the property owners were aware of how liable they could be allowing them to shoot there under such conditions or what on earth they could have been thinking it was a good idea. The whole scenario is awful in general I hope they recover, but I also expect we will see a hefty legal dispute to follow this in the process. Jun 10 15 07:56 am Link This is why so many are reluctant to give permission for shoots to take place on their property. Gabby Jun 10 15 08:31 am Link Solas wrote: Sadly, the prognosis for 80% is usually grim, but some people do survive and go on to live relatively normal lives. Jun 10 15 08:48 am Link MoRina wrote: We have to think about safety at shoots. On one of my shoots a model broke a finger when we were climbing over wet and slippery rocks in a waterfall area. She didn't find out that it was broken until 2 weeks later. Jun 10 15 10:05 am Link What I read on OP's original three Articles...this was 100% Preventable. Using Lighted Candles as a set piece in a junked out car. Living in LA...I see the areas of Hazards...Like The Railroad Tracks by the LA River Downtown. While some would use....It is truly too damn dangerous to use. Many elements of injury could happen. I Stopped using this section of a Beach in California, But to get to this not known beach by most...would involve some rock climbing and would take depending on the agility of my models...quite some time..or quickly done. IF, the Tide is way down...all we had to do was walk around them big rocks...but if the tide was up...Rock Climbing. I decided to stop using this certain location many years ago. I got this horrible idea...one day..one of my Models...would get hurt or actually would die from a fall. When I shoot on the Islands of Oahu and Maui...I am very careful and explain to the Models...Beach Hazards. Jun 10 15 10:19 am Link DOUGLASFOTOS wrote: Explaining things to the model is NOT the same as having liability insurance for when things really go wrong. Jun 10 15 10:30 am Link There is a (generally closed) waterfront area of Toronto where the shoreline is covered with smashed concrete, old sidewalk chunks, building slabs, light poles etc. Many pieces have significant lengths of rebar sticking out and up. An absolute impalement death trap loaded with tripping hazards and unstable footing. Gasoline is tricky stuff. If there is no wind the fumes will accumulate in any low spot, and can spread significant distances in a layer only a few inches deep - even from just a couple ounces. Outside the layer there is nothing to smell. I have seen a cup (8 oz) of gasoline create a 20 foot diameter ground hugging flashover. Jun 10 15 11:05 am Link Montoya was believed to be using a vehicle that was inoperable and using candles as a backdrop for the photo shoot. Police suspect gas fumes were ignited by the candles. "This was more of an explosion, than an actual burn," said Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Timothy Heiser. "When Fire Rescue crews arrived, the majority of the fire was already out, but it appears there was some sort type of explosion that self extinguished for the most part." Jun 10 15 01:17 pm Link MoRina wrote: I agree! This is such a terrible accident that no one should ever have to go through! Jun 10 15 02:21 pm Link Solas wrote: Anything automotive related has potential for accidents! I used to be a turn worker in communications at race tracks. Strategically positioned at every turn there is to be two flag operators (giving color flag & hand signals to drivers), one turn marshal standing by one fireman (holding an extinguisher) and two communicators of which I was one. It's called the "buddy system" as we look in opposite directions over each others shoulders. Jun 10 15 03:07 pm Link Horrible and tragic. One precaution when shooting around any open flame that is in proximity to the model. Clothing. Some fabrics are highly combustible and ignite easily if they contact open flame; some synthetic fibers will generate additional thermal energy and potentially aggravate thermal damage from other external sources. Then, there are fibers that will protect (to some degree) from flash type burns. The Forest Service uses a material called Nomex. It is required for all wildland firefighters whether they are working for the Government or for independent Wildland Fire Suppression contractors. However, Nomex isn't very stylish and tends not to come in colors that would be considered stylish. Prayers and wishes for full recovery for the victims of this tragic event. Jun 10 15 03:30 pm Link Ken Marcus Studios wrote: ...and for an accident of this magnitude, the million dollar policy, which is a common amount for liability policies, won't cover the long term medical expenses. Jun 10 15 04:15 pm Link This was in a salvage yard? Around here, scrap metal dealers will not accept a vehicle unless the fuel tank has been removed or drained and disabled by punching holes in it. At auto salvage yards, the first thing they do is either remove the fuel tank (if it can be resold as a used part or is plastic) or drain and disable the fuel tank by punching holes in it (if it is metal and will be scrapped with the vehicle). Jun 10 15 04:24 pm Link ernst tischler wrote: They are supposed to, but as I said earlier, never assume that it's been done. Interesting how unemotional, and nearly unsympathetic that employee (or owner?) interviewed seems. If I had just witnessed something like that happen, I don't think I could seem so unaffected. Jun 10 15 05:36 pm Link Iv'e been thru a few salvage yards looking for the lettering for my '64 Impala SS (that's back when they used to apply the characters individually with a screw- not a glue stick). The boys always told you, you were fair game to anything out there and they were not responsible for your bleedings. Amen. P. S. The Impala came and went and oh baby what a lead sled with its Hush Thrush 2-1/2" side pipes roaring Jun 10 15 06:01 pm Link ernst tischler wrote: Interesting, I frequent the yards myself for car parts (lots of project cars between me and a buddy) but haven't seen that in practice. It's a good idea though Jun 10 15 06:12 pm Link The fumes may not have been from the care they were in. Jun 10 15 06:42 pm Link ernst tischler wrote: It was a used parts yard where he bought (probably) totaled cars, sold off as many of the parts as he could and then sold the hulks for scrap metal to a metal yard. A lot of the cars had partial interiors, no engines and were in varying degrees of being dismantled. Jun 10 15 07:31 pm Link UPDATE............according to the local 11:00 PM news it was not a model but his assistant that was UNDER the car setting up the shot. It gets worse, if you have someone under the set you don't start the fire until they are clear. She is married with children.... shame. Jun 10 15 08:10 pm Link And the next time some idiot comes in here and posts how unfair it is that they need to pay for liability insurance, we can all point them to this incident. Jun 10 15 08:22 pm Link Solas wrote: I don't know of the restrictions in running a salvage business, but I've been to quite a variety of yards. The reality is that auto salvage yards are not in the business of providing some sort of venue or location for photo shoots. There is the question of liability insurance covering such an activity and at such a business. Jun 10 15 08:42 pm Link Vector One Photography wrote: Oh man! That's heart breaking. Jun 10 15 08:46 pm Link Ken Marcus Studios wrote: Again Ken you have touch on the core here, and I agree 100% Jun 11 15 05:53 am Link Wow this is sad and terrible Jun 11 15 10:24 am Link John Jebbia wrote: + about 63 photographers agreeing with this statement. Jun 11 15 10:58 am Link Does anyone have an update on this? Jun 12 15 06:16 pm Link Jules NYC wrote: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/browa … story.html Jun 12 15 06:40 pm Link Chicchowmein wrote: This may sound rude but I hope they hang it on the photographer and not the yard. They allowed photographers to shoot in a place you normally don't get to use and they're going to eat it it for this. I used to shoot there, I just found two other yards 25 miles away but because of this incident they probably won't let me shoot even though I have $ 3M in insurance. Jun 12 15 06:44 pm Link Vector One Photography wrote: I would imagine that the insurance company will probably insist on no more photo shoots there. I wouldn't be surprised if the insurance company drops coverage and may possibly deny coverage on the grounds that this was an inherently risky activity. I would think that as a matter of course the yard would deny future photo shoots. Jun 12 15 06:55 pm Link |