Where's the fire? Photojournalist Jim Leo always knew

When firefighters set up a perimeter around a burning building, The Herald photographer Jim Leo was often allowed to cross the line to get closer to the blaze.

That is, if he hadn't already beaten them to the scene.

"That's probably the thing that sticks in the skin of most firefighters," said Kate Reardon, city of Everett spokeswoman and a former reporter for the Everett newspaper. "They'd get to the scene of the fire, and lo and behold, the darn photographer from The Herald was already there."

Mr. Leo, who worked at the newspaper for more than 45 years, established himself as an award-winning photojournalist and a community institution, respected by newspeople and firefighters alike. He retired from the newspaper in 1997.

Mr. Leo died Wednesday of complications during open-heart surgery. He was 73.

James Allen Leo was born June 3, 1935, and spent his life in his hometown of Everett.

He got his start at The Herald soon after graduating from Everett High School, working for the newspaper's circulation department, said Larry Hanson, former Herald publisher and a close friend.

"He was working in the mailroom, but he was out shooting pictures, and pretty soon his pictures started appearing in the paper," Hanson said.

After Mr. Leo got a job in the photo department, he rapidly distinguished himself as a spot-news photographer. Mr. Leo was an old-school newsman, Reardon said, the kind in Hollywood movies who jumps on the story the moment the phone is hung up. A police scanner was his constant companion, even at home.

"He was the ultimate ambulance-chaser police photographer," said Cole Porter, a former Herald photographer and former Seattle Times director of photography. "He never missed a story, no matter the time or day of the week."

Mr. Leo's wife, Connie, would often ask him to put away his scanner, said Everett Fire Chief Murray Gordon. He finally relented — to a degree.

"Instead of having his pager on his nightstand, he'd put it under his pillow so it wouldn't wake his wife," Gordon said. "He was tireless."

His car was unmistakable, decked out with a brightly painted newspaper logo, police and fire scanners, two-way radios and amber emergency lights.

"There were at least 25 antennas poking out of that car," said Michael O'Leary, a Herald photographer who worked with Mr. Leo.

Over the years, Mr. Leo developed a relationship with firefighters, sharing countless hours at fire scenes.

In 1966, he was named an honorary firefighter — a distinction held by only four people in the department's history, Reardon said. His photographs received awards from The Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Press Photographers Association, among others.

After he retired from The Herald, Mr. Leo continued submitting freelance photos to the newspaper, said Justin Best, the newspaper's director of photography.

Mr. Leo gave up his press pass but not his scanner. He continued beating firefighters to emergencies, Gordon said, and he even had his own helmet and other protective gear.

When a fire destroyed the Stewart Title office in Everett in June, Mr. Leo arrived at the scene and lent his turnout gear and helmet to a firefighter who had forgotten his, Gordon said. The act was typical of Mr. Leo's support of the department, he said.

"We never asked," Gordon said. "He just always gave."

Mr. Leo is survived by his wife, Connie Rae; son Jeff of Atlanta; and daughter Lori. Services are pending.

Noelene Clark: 206-464-2321 or nclark@seattletimes.com