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'It's just a way of life' | Sister photographs fires to honor brother

On a bitterly cold morning, a fire broke out at a Falls Church apartment complex. Within an hour, firefighters were on scene battling flames. But among the 'first responders' and frantic neighbors, there was also a woman named Debi, camera in hand. She's a 'fire buff.' And yet, her story goes far deeper than just a hobby.

WASHINGTON — The 31st of January was an especially cold morning. The thermometer read 10 degrees, but with wind chill, it felt a lot colder. 

And early that morning, neighbors at the Grandview Apartment complex in Falls Church, awoke to the sound of flames. Immediately, someone called 911, and soon the building was swarming with activity. 

Credit: Mike Trammell
Firefighters battle blaze at Grandview Apartment Complex in Falls Church

The Red Cross was on scene, providing shelter to frantic neighbors, and firefighters were on the roof, battling the flames. 

All the while, Debi Gerald was there, camera in hand. 

"I just happened to wake up," she said. "And I heard it on the scanner." 

Credit: Evan Koslof
Debi Gerald photographs fire at Grandview Apartments in Falls Church

Debi was bundled up in a thick jacket and a hat, but it did little to stop the cold air. Her cheeks were red, and each breath created a mist, breaking through the frozen air. 

So why was she there? She's a 'fire buff.'

"We're people who run around and chase fires," she said. 

Deeper meaning

And yet, this is not just a hobby for Debi. She does it for a far more personal reason: Her brother. 

Earlier this month, WUSA9 joined Debi at a family graveyard, near her Fairfax County home. 

Credit: Evan Koslof
Debi Gerald visits the grave of her brother

"I just wish my brother was still here a lot of days," she said. 

She then paused for a while, staring down at her brother's grave. 

"It was obviously really hard on my mom," she said. "Losing my brother. You never want to lose a child." 

Her brother's name was Wes Gerald. For decades, he worked as a fire dispatcher for Fairfax County. But even before that, he was obsessed with the fire department, drawing him to become a fire photographer. 

Credit: Debi Gerald
Wes Gerald was a long time fire photographer and dispatcher

In 2007, he died from complications of a kidney transplant. Now Debi continues, where he left off. 

"There's probably not a day that goes by when I don't think about my brother," she said. "But this does help. Knowing that it meant so much to him. Now it means this much for me as well."  

Debi created a Facebook group called "Wes' Sister On Fire," in which she documents fires, and posts tributes to her brother.

Credit: Facebook
Debi Gerald created this Facebook group to honor her brother

"I've been to fires at midnight with seven or eight inches of snow on the ground," she laughed. "I've driven 30 minutes to Maryland to fires  where it's so cold that the spray from the water has frozen to the fire equipment. The bushes are frozen. Yeah, I've definitely been like 'what am I doing out here.'" 

Family Tradition

The origins for this 'fire buff' lifestyle all began with Debi's dad, Frank. He was a police officer for Fairfax County, and always had a scanner nearby. 

"I honestly don't remember a house without a police scanner," Debi laughed. "It's something I grew up with." 

Credit: Debi Gerald
Debi Gerald's father always emphasized the importance of service

And it wasn't just her father. Her mother, Jill cared deeply about service as well. She spent years working for both the Navy and the Army. 

"It's just a way of life," she said. 

Credit: Evan Koslof
Debi Gerald and her mother sat down with WUSA9 to talk about service

With parents like this, Debi and Wes had no choice. Public service was in their DNA. Debi spent years, serving in the Coast Guard. 

As for Wes, his passion was always in the fire service.

"A policeman came to his school," laughed Jill. "And (Wes) looked up at his face, and said 'but I want to be a fireman.' So that policeman came to my husband and said I want to tell you what your son told me."

Credit: Debi Gerald
Wes Gerald always loved the fire service

Soon after, Wes would pick up a camera for the first time, and immediately he flocked to the fire department. 

"He had these spiral notebooks..." said Debi. "He would write down what call he went on. Some calls he would ride his bicycle if it was close enough."

Legacy

Since her brother's death in 2007, a lot has changed for Debi and the Gerald family. But this ritual of fire photography has stayed the same. Debi said the process allows her to connect with her brother. 

"I do this because he did this," she said. 

Credit: Evan Koslof
Debi Gerald says fire photography brings her closer to her brother

As for mom, she said it comes down to tradition. 

"Now she's here," she said. "Following in her brother's footsteps."

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