Newspaper still manages to print news despite violent wildfire, power outage

Image: Twitter/@MarcBeauchamp1

The violent wildfire spreading through Shasta County in Northern California has afflicted and shaken many in its wake. As per the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (CALFIRE) government page, the Carr Fire began last July 23 and spread beyond the Sacramento River and through Redding City limits with little warning, leaving thousands of people homeless. Five are dead thus far, and almost 900 structures have been destroyed.

But as thousands of residents packed up to flee, the reporters behind the Redding Record Searchlight, the local newspaper of Redding, California, stayed put — come wildfire and power outage — so they can continue doing their job: to report.

Matthew Brannon, sports reporter of the Record Searchlight, took to his Twitter last July 26 to share that the power was out at the Record Searchlight office at Twin View Boulevard.

“Lights, police scanner – all power out at Redding Record Searchlight #CarrFire,” Brannon tweeted, sharing a picture of their team working in a dark newsroom, illuminated only by a lantern.

https://twitter.com/MattBrannon_RS/status/1022703596834500611

On the same night of July 26, Damon Arthur, another reporter at the Record Searchlight took to his Twitter that despite the wildfire, the staff are still trying to work.

“Power finally went out at the Record Searchlight but R-S reporters are still trying to bring you the news as the #CARRFire bears down on Redding,” wrote Arthur, also sharing a picture of the reporters inside their newsroom that looked like a campground.

Power finally went out at the Record Searchlight but R-S reporters are still trying to bring you the news as the #CARRFire bears down on Redding. pic.twitter.com/KDbhQsNGji

— Damon Arthur (@damonarthur_RS) July 27, 2018

But despite the violent wildfire (which has spread to around 95,000 acres by July 29) around the area, the reporters of the Record Searchlight still got the job done and put out the paper the following day.

David Little, editor of the Chico Enterprise-Record, shared on Twitter last July 27 that they helped  in printing the Record Searchlight’s paper due to the power outage.

“Here’s today’s Redding Record Searchlight, assembled in the dark and printed at the Chico Enterprise-Record because they had no power in Redding,” wrote Little as he posted a picture of Friday’s paper. “Great work in awful circumstances.”

Here’s today’s Redding Record Searchlight, assembled in the dark and printed at the Chico Enterprise-Record because they had no power in Redding. Great work in awful circumstances. pic.twitter.com/wBom3z3wd8

— David Little (@DavidLittleNVCF) July 27, 2018

Marc Beauchamp, a photographer and writer based in Redding, also took a photo of that day’s Record Searchlight paper, extending his gratitude to the team for their relentless work.

“Thank you, Record Searchlight and Redding.com,” wrote Beauchamp. “You folks are doing an amazing job keeping us informed about the #CarrFire.”

Thank you, Record Searchlight and https://t.co/lJYwlTLl4n. You folks are doing an amazing job keeping us informed about the #CarrFire pic.twitter.com/KfHjZDQ4h7

— Marc Beauchamp (@MarcBeauchamp1) July 28, 2018

Who says print is dead? JB

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