P1 video producer Ray Kemp was in shock after witnessing violent protests last night in Ferguson, following the grand jury decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.
“I never expected to watch buildings burn one after another,” Ray Kemp reported by phone from Ferguson, Mo. “I could not believe what I was filming. It was sickening to watch.”
P1 crew embedded with first responders
The P1 camera crew is embedded, with permission, at the command center and has been responding with police, fire and EMS. Crews filmed the firefighters beginning suppression efforts.
“When the first fire call came in we followed the fire task force down the road,” Kemp said. Police officers covered firefighters as they responded to the flames.
When gunfire escalated, as seen is this video, the P1 camera crew took cover behind their vehicle. Gunfire was close and aimed at the police line they were positioned with. At that point buildings were left to burn as “there was too much gunfire and the firefighters were clearly at risk,” Kemp said.
EMS protected and ready to assist
Despite the prevalence of gunfire and numerous fires, the P1 camera crew did not have a chance to embed with an ambulance crew.
“My understanding is that there were injuries, but EMS was not overwhelmed,” Kemp said. “I am glad no first responders were injured.”
“EMS personnel were wearing blue bullet proof vests and B2 helmets,” he continued.
Far from over
Kemp expects the unrest to continue for many days. He said law enforcement, fire and EMS are anticipating and preparing for the violence to continue; possibly even escalating in the days and nights ahead.
“What we saw last night was very similar to the first night of protests in August,” he said.
If the August pattern repeats itself, emergency responders should expect relatively peaceful daytime protests. The P1 camera crew is preparing for another busy night because Kemp expects “violence to be much more likely when darkness falls.”
“It is an honor,” he said, “for us to be embedded with our emergency responders.”
