View of hill side at Coloma, panning down to water of the American River, site of gold discovery by John Marshall in 1848, that led to the "gold rush." Close up view of panning for gold and filtering screens in use. Elevated view of wooden viaduct on hillside that transported water. Reconstruction interior view of a gold miner's office or dwelling, with gear and belongings of the mid 1800s period in the American west. A covered wagon parked outside. Saddles and harnesses hanging from rafters in a wooden building. Reconstructed studio of photographer Peter Britt, with various portrait photographs on the walls, and an area for subjects to sit, with a backdrop, for photographs. View of an authentic camera from the period.
Firefighter in red cap, stands in front of a makeshift Incident Command Post for firefighters at the Salmon River Complex, in 1987. He speaks of the value of having involved people of the local community in managing the battle against this forest fire.
Aerial view of forest fire flames and smoke from an aircraft traveling away from the wildfire front at Stanislaus National Forest, in 1987. View from ground of firefighting vehicles on road leading away from the fire. Smoke and flames billowing from behind. Red fire trucks parked on dirt road near forest fire. A small bus delivers several firefighters to a gathering of others, in yellow protective gear, assembled in an open space. Personal gear on the ground belonging to fire fighters recovering after being forced to employ their personal fire shelters as the flames blew over them unexpectedly at the fire front. They are breathing oxygen from masks, and otherwise being helped and interviewed. (All escaped safely.)
A supervisory firefighter briefs teams about people not seeing flames and not feeling threatened, so they may be getting tired of seeing firefighters all the time. He describes this as approaching the "5th stage" of rescue which he defines as "shoot the rescuer." The assembled firefighters chuckle about this. A long line of firefighters walks along a dirt road and enter the Stanislaus National Forest. Smoke blows from the entrance.
A new Marine helicopter takes off from Connecticut in the United States. The twin engined Sikorsky XHR2S helicopter parked on the airbase. Marines board and a jeep is loaded in the helicopter. Officers watching the helicopter. The helicopter takes off.
Seven-year old Pete Mole, heads off to school from his home, riding a unicycle. He carries his lunch box in one hand and his school books in the other. He is soon surrounded by a phalanx of school children who accompany him, some on roller skates. Later, he is seen arriving at the school where he dismounts and parks his unicycle near the door and enters. (Pete Mole went on to become an important innovator in the bicycle business, known, among other things, for the banana seat; high rise bike; and folding bikes.)
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