BANNING (CBSLA.com) — An experienced television news photographer covering the Silver Fire on Wednesday night became part of the story when he put down his camera and picked up a garden hose in an effort to save a home.
Aerial footage of the fire captured by SKY9's Gil Leyvas showed flames engulfing a detached garage while a man desperately worked to keep the fire from spreading to the nearby home just feet away.
That man was later identified as Shawn Kaye who works for “First In,” a stringer service that sells video to CBS2/KCAL9.
“When we came around the back of the house, the garage behind us was completely involved in flames, exposing the single-family dwelling on the side us. It was a lot of fire,” Kaye said.
After a few very long minutes, Kaye received help from a water-dropping helicopter that took over where he left off.
“The good news is firefighters getting on scene. They’re gonna bring out their heavy hoses and put this fire out,” reported Leyvas.
The wildfire, which erupted about 2:05 p.m. Wednesday, has damaged or destroyed at least 15 structures in the Twin Pines area. The fire was 10 percent contained.
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