Reflection

In early June, there was a serious wildfire in Canada whose effects spread to various regions across the northern hemisphere, such as New York. As a resident from Long Island, I have never recognized the prominence and dangers of the effects of a wildfire until the air quality was severely impacted in my city. The Long Island I have always known was a place with clear blue skies and relatively clean air. However, after the wildfire, a smoky miasma pervaded my hometown and I soon realized that wildfires were in fact severe occurrences that should not be ignored. This prompted me to create a painting representing how heroes can resolve environmental issues in natural disasters like these. I researched one firefighter in particular: Chief David Hawks. To stop the fire, he and his team worked together in evacuating patients from the Feather River Hospital and escorted them to a home to ensure their safety and protection from the wildfire.