Capturing the fiery ordeal of Ed Vuolo through reportorial illustration

March 02, 2002

Imagine being trapped in a whirlwind of flames, an environment where the air seems to combust, and the world around you blurs into a chaotic dance of fire and heat. For Ed Vuolo this was his reality—a visceral, firsthand encounter with an inferno that inspired this reportorial illustration for Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Jacob Benison, Reportorial Illustration, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, March 02, 2002
Jacob Benison, Reportorial Illustration, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, March 02, 2002

About the project

Sarasota Herald-Tribune reporter Tom Bayles embarked on a unique journalistic journey, going beyond the role of a mere observer. In preparation for wildfire coverage, Bayles attended firefighting training school and qualified as a volunteer firefighter with the Florida Division of Forestry. Over six months, he served with forestry rangers, helping fight some of the worst wildfires of the season and documenting their experiences from inside the fire.

As part of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune team, I was privileged with translating these gripping accounts into illustrative form. Each image aimed to capture the raw courage and determination exhibited by Ed Vuolo and his fellow firefighters.

Below are additional vignettes from the series that depict various facets of the firefighting experience.

A forest ranger keeps watch for wildfires from a high tower.A drawing of a tractor and plow used in fighting wildfires.A firefighter in his tractor is engulfed in flames.A helicopter prepares to dump water on a remote wildfire.Another firefighter escapes from an impaired tractor quickly overtaken by the fire.

One of several accounts Bayles wrote in a series of articles for the newspaper described the experience of Ed Vuolo.

Left: Ed Vuolo demonstrates how he attempted to shield his face from the intense heat of the fire that encircled him and his tractor. Right: This vignette accompanied Vuolo’s story on the third day of the series.

Left: Ed Vuolo demonstrates how he attempted to shield his face from the intense heat of the fire that encircled him and his tractor. Right: This vignette accompanied Vuolo’s story on the third day of the series.
“He tries for one more breath, but finds no oxygen. The fire has used it all. He jams his eyes shut and guns his tractor blindly forward. He doesn't know how thick the fire is, or if he will run into a trench or a tree or another ranger on the other side. But staying still means dying.”
— Tom Bayles, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 6 March 2002

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