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As a firefighter in the 70s, other than a tanker fire on the Beltway shot by overnight photographer Larry Krebs, and a second-alarm, gas-fed fire that burned for a few hours, I have no recollection of seeing much in the way of film or still pictures of the early stages of any fires I was on. But these days it is rare when there isn't good digital stills or video. Some of it shot by neighbors or people passing by even before the firefighters arrive. Some of it is shot by the firefighters.

Obviously this is a big bonus for training. But as we have seen recently, you have to be prepared for a bit of criticism by those who don't like what they are seeing.

Sunday's fire at 8231 Northlake Court in Laurel had no shortage of cameras. The most dramatic video is a short video clip on Laurel VFD's website shot by Brian Scherer. Also on the website, still pictures shot by Scherer and Assistant Chief Todd Bayles.

In my Sunday 11:00 p.m. story, I used video shot by off-duty Montgomery County firefighter Ray Briscoe. Briscoe is also a long-time volunteer at Branchville VFD in Prince George's County. The fire was just a few blocks from his home and "Smokey" went in rolling. Here is the raw video from Ray Briscoe.