DISASTER TOURISTS: Like most human tragedies, Tahoe fire is irresistible to spectators

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 6/29/7 | Kelly Zito, Kantele Franko

[SmithL]

South Lake Tahoe -- Along with wind shifts, floating embers and evacuation orders, homeowners and firefighters in the Angora Fire in South Lake Tahoe must deal with another unpredictable factor -- the gawkers.

Onlookers drawn by the spectacle of the fire and firefighters' dramatic efforts have at times fought with Tahoe residents and blocked traffic in attempts to wander close to fire zones. Fire authorities say they often have to deal with such lookie-loos, and they warn that people need to stay away from fire areas.

"They're the disaster tourists," said Rex Norman, spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service. "They're people who seem to have driven long distances to look at burned houses, which is extraordinarily difficult for the affected residents."

Dave Martinez and Kimberly Holloway drove for more than an hour down from the lake's north shore to take in the spectacle. In the Gardner Mountain section of South Lake Tahoe this week, the couple walked up to the charred line separating the homes from the burned forest and took photographs of the firefighters.

"I travel to a lot of these things," said Martinez, a retired contractor. "But this is the first big one for her," he added, pointing to Holloway.

"I watched them all day (Tuesday), and look at the job they did," he said. "That's where the fire came to, and there are the houses. These guys deserve a lot of thanks."

He and Holloway passed out some bottled water and pretzels (the day before, they brought Snickers bars) and then took video and photos of the fire team. The firefighters, part of a crew of convicts, shouted out their hometowns as Martinez filmed them.

[SmithL]

- Kodak moment: Kimberly Holloway and Dave Martinez snap photos of firefighters in the Gardner Mountain section of South Lake Tahoe.

[PeterPrinciple]

We need to be reminded of this fire...........

http://www.mnhs.org/library/tips/history_topics/21hinckley.html

[Vigilanteman]

These gawkers need to be handled a shovel or extinguisher (or whatever else may be appropriate) and put to work either fighting fire or cleaning up. A curt “there’s no room here for gawkers, I’m deputizing you” would do the trick.

[Disambiguator]

People have written books about this sort of thing.

[jackibutterfly]

"Just behind the property lines, teams of firefighters sprayed hot spots and chopped down "candlestick" trees -- crownless trunks with smoke rising from them."

They should spray those "tourists"! Disgusting!