Technology is great - WHEN used wisely and responsibly but when people think they are professional news photographers/reporters and just because their phone has a camera and can take pictures/video, and then post them on the Internet without any consideration about their actions - and that they think they are some great photographer and need to be the first person to post pix about an event - they are simply insensitive in many cases.
I had the first digital camera in Manning and was the first to start posting pix and history on my web pages, but I've understood that there needs to be some responsibility.
Prior to this I had the first RCA video camera in Western Iowa and provided programming for the local Channel 2 Cable station for almost 10 years.
This was when that type of technology was new and VERY expensive, so very few people adopted that technology - NOT until it became more mainstream and a lot less expensive...

I also had visited with Ron Colling over the years on how he handled deadly traffic accidents, and home fires...having the Freedom of the Press behind him, he used his judgement as to when/how he would use some of those pictures in the Monitor.
Of course he had time to think about it for many days before it was published - unlike today with EVERYTHING needing to be INSTANT.
He also did not like to take pictures of deadly traffic accidents and would not take close-up pictures of the victims and many times would wait until the vehicle was hauled off-site to take pictures...he only took these types of pictures if they were to be used by inspectors of the accident and law enforcement.
He didn't want to add salt to the wounds of the victims and the families by publishing irresponsible photos in the paper.

Another reason why most people need to stay way back from a fire event, and also not feel they have to post the pix they take is shown below...No one can know for sure what might be in the structure that will explode and become a deadly missile, like what happened in 1964.

Julius Hoffman next to the propane tank that exploded in 1964.
The cylinder ruptured in a fire 9 miles north on East Street on a farm inside a barn, and became a missile.
Notice it split at the welding seam.
No one knew the tank was in the barn.

January 28, 2025 - propane tank at the site after the fire

I don't know for sure but am guessing that the valve was open and connected to a device with a hose that uses propane so when the hose burned off, the gas was able to escape and not super-heat, expand, and then cause the tank to explode.

Now I was never a fireman but I've video-taped controlled burns of house fires by the firemen and also captured them with my digital camera.
I've also been involved with many controlled burns of barns and farm buildings during our farming operation.
So I've had decades of experience around fires to understand many of the dangers that could arise.

I visited with Gene Steffes for a few minutes to tell him I won't be posting fire pictures like so many vultures have done on the Internet to bolster their egos, but if it was OK I would feature some of the hard work and volunteerism for the clean-up and some history of the Dultmeier building...he said that would be OK.

I also thanked one of the firemen on-site while taking some pictures of the clean-up process.
I hope everyone who sees a fireman will thank them for their volunteer service.

Before you post something like this tragedy - think about if it was your property in a conflagration - about your livelihood and family...you might think twice then...
Dave