Raging Fire Destroys Salem Rural Property

"Ash Wednesday, and I've got a pile of ashes right now" - property owner, Dennis Boettcher

Photo and video by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - The natural sound package or photo essay, is in my opinion and that of man others, the best way to convey a story with the tools of a video journalist. Some stories or 'packages' as the are called in TV news, absolutely require a narrator. It is also true that viewers are accustomed to the reporter standing on camera explaining the story face to face, in the 'stand up'.

But in many cases, the video and sound recorded from the scene are sufficient tools to tell a story, and there are those times that absolutely no tools are required beyond the real events that took place, this photo essay by Jerry Freeman tells the story of a rural, multiple alarm fire that fortunately, resulted in no injuries.

The property owner, Dennis Boettcher, is a disabled Vietnam Veteran. He was kind enough to talk about the loss from a fire that developed when he was picking his wife Joyce up at the Portland airport. Her flight from Denver was late and as a result, Dennis received a call when they were finally rolling back to the Salem area from his daughter, advising him that the pole barn had burned.

He said his first concern was whether anyone might have been hurt, "Ash Wednesday, and I've got a pile of ashes right now," Mr. Boettcher said.
- forward by Tim King

Jerry Freeman is part of a new generation of dedicated news photographers who entered the Internet news industry as a second career. He shares in common with many people who fulfilled their life dream of becoming a visual journalist. Joining the Navy at an early age, and the Oregon Army Guard a few years later, Jerry has a wide range of life experiences. He describes himself as “a truck driver with a new found passion to bear witness to the world’s events.”

Teaming up with Salem-News.com he embarked on a new career as a video news photographer and reporter. Jerry's quick exhibition of natural talent and ability to shoot breaking news led to his becoming a published member of the Salem-News.com team.