FIRE ENGINES!

Year Published: 1949

Description: Made by filmmaker Warwick M Tompkins in 1949, "Fire Engines!" was filmed in Los Angeles and features the men and engines of the LAFD. Specifically, the men of Truck 27 are shown. A full scale drill is undertaken as part of the film, involving a pump, salvage wagon, and truck The film shows the use of sawdust and waterproof covers as part of the firefighting effort. (Note: this rare film is somewhat damaged, and missing the very end.) 00:00: Main titles. Firemen prepare for a practice drill at the Engine House, introducing the equipment: the Salvage wagon, the pump or engine, and the truck. 1:09 - 2:03:Explanation of the salvage wagon's role in firefighting, which includes using sawdust, mops, brooms, and waterproof covers to protect items from water damage. The practice of "ballooning a cover" is demonstrated. 2:03 - 4:08:Detailed look at the pump or engine, which carries different sizes of hoses for various fire sizes. The process of connecting to a hydrant and starting water flow is described, emphasizing the importance of speed in firefighting. 4:08 - 5:52:Introduction to the hook and ladder truck, which is equipped with various ladders. The operation of raising and extending the "aerial" ladder, which reaches 100 feet, is explained. 5:52 - 7:21: View from the top of the aerial ladder, showcasing how firemen drill with an extension ladder. The Life Net, used for catching people jumping from high places, is demonstrated in slow motion. 7:21 - 8:11:Description of additional tools on the truck like axes, sledgehammers, electric fans for smoke clearance, and crowbars for heavy lifting. A review of all the firefighting equipment is provided. 8:11 - 10:25: Simulation of a real fire scenario. Firemen are seen doing routine tasks at the Engine House when an alarm for a house fire two miles away is raised. In 30 seconds, firemen and equipment leave the Engine House. They navigate through the streets to the fire, prioritizing the rescue of people trapped by fire. Actions taken include setting up sawdust dams to limit water and fire damage to one room, connecting the pump to a hydrant, and deploying hoses to extinguish the fire. The scenario concludes with the fire being put out within 10 minutes of the alarm sounding. This summary encapsulates the educational content about firefighting equipment, techniques, and emergency response procedures as described in the text.

Complete Record: Made by filmmaker Warwick M Tompkins in 1949, "Fire Engines!" was filmed in Los Angeles and features the men and engines of the LAFD. Specifically, the men of Truck 27 are shown. A full scale drill is undertaken as part of the film, involving a pump, salvage wagon, and truck The film shows the use of sawdust and waterproof covers as part of the firefighting effort. (Note: this rare film is somewhat damaged, and missing the very end.) 00:00: Main titles. Firemen prepare for a practice drill at the Engine House, introducing the equipment: the Salvage wagon, the pump or engine, and the truck. 1:09 - 2:03:Explanation of the salvage wagon's role in firefighting, which includes using sawdust, mops, brooms, and waterproof covers to protect items from water damage. The practice of "ballooning a cover" is demonstrated. 2:03 - 4:08:Detailed look at the pump or engine, which carries different sizes of hoses for various fire sizes. The process of connecting to a hydrant and starting water flow is described, emphasizing the importance of speed in firefighting. 4:08 - 5:52:Introduction to the hook and ladder truck, which is equipped with various ladders. The operation of raising and extending the "aerial" ladder, which reaches 100 feet, is explained. 5:52 - 7:21: View from the top of the aerial ladder, showcasing how firemen drill with an extension ladder. The Life Net, used for catching people jumping from high places, is demonstrated in slow motion. 7:21 - 8:11:Description of additional tools on the truck like axes, sledgehammers, electric fans for smoke clearance, and crowbars for heavy lifting. A review of all the firefighting equipment is provided. 8:11 - 10:25: Simulation of a real fire scenario. Firemen are seen doing routine tasks at the Engine House when an alarm for a house fire two miles away is raised. In 30 seconds, firemen and equipment leave the Engine House. They navigate through the streets to the fire, prioritizing the rescue of people trapped by fire. Actions taken include setting up sawdust dams to limit water and fire damage to one room, connecting the pump to a hydrant, and deploying hoses to extinguish the fire. The scenario concludes with the fire being put out within 10 minutes of the alarm sounding. This summary encapsulates the educational content about firefighting equipment, techniques, and emergency response procedures as described in the text.

Transcription

e [Music] firemen call their Engine House quarters these firemen are getting ready for a practice drill they are strong Brave and skillful men fire engines Drive quietly and slowly on the way to the drill grounds here comes the Salvage wagon this is the pump or engine and last is the truck salvage means to save the Salvage wagon carries bags of sawdust mops and brooms Salvage men use waterproof covers which protect rugs and fear from water these Salvage men are drilling with a cover they call this ballooning a cover at many fires water does more damage than fire itself sawdust dkes and dams keep water away from rooms where no fire firemen call this the pump or engine it pumps water onto a fire the pump carries a great deal of Hose it is carefully folded into the pump big hose for big fires mediumsized hose for small blazes and rubber hose on a reel for little fires in firefighting every second is important the pump drops a fireman and a hose end at the hydrant almost without stopping then it stretches its hose along the street the fireman quickly connects the hose to the hydrant using this four-way connection with a wrench he turns on the water the pump now backs to the hydrant it will be connected to the hydrant by other hoses and by the four-way connection already on the hydrant in less than one minute the engine will be throwing water through four other hose lines hose nozzles are hard to hold because the water is under high pressure these gauges on the pump measure water pressure streams like these quickly stop most fire water puts out fires by quickly cooling whatever is burning saving lives is the main job of the hook and ladder firemen call this a truck the truck is loaded with ladders of different kinds the fireman who steers the rear end is the tiller man before the the longest heaviest ladder can be raised extra supports must be placed under the truck these screw Jacks support and steady the truck the tiller man's seat must be swung clear his steering gear removed levers control the ladder raising it turning it and lengthen the right hand lever lifts the ladder the middle lever swings it around toward the building the third lever shoots the ladder up and up and up higher than this seven story Tower so high into the air that the ladder is called the aiel it is 100 ft long would you like to know how the world looks from the very tip top of the aial then hold on tight this is a fireman's view of his Hook and Ladder from the top of the aial firemen below us are drilling with an extension ladder extension means to make longer this is a heavy ladder but the firemen have learned to handle it very skillfully two men steady it while a third extends it by pulling on a rope now the ladder sprouting like Jack's Bean stalk reaches a high window the truck carries a Life Net too this is a canvas hammock connected by Steel Springs to a circle made of pipe we'll see how these Springs cushion a Jumper's fall 10 men hold the net for a practice jump let's watch that again in slow motion from the seventh floor the net looks tiny but our jumpers away watch The Springs the truck is the fireman's tool carrier its crewmen all wear axes in leather holsters sledgehammers are needed sometimes to batter down locked doors electric fans blow smoke from a fire so hosen can see the Flames firemen move heavy weights with crowbars carried by the truck let's review our firefighting equipment here's the Salvage wagon which prevents damage the engine which pumps water and the truck which saves lives now we can understand better what happens at a real fire at The Engine House a fireman is mowing the lawn but two miles away a house is a fire fire fire spread the alarm our homes Our lives our city are in danger [Music] in 30 seconds men and machines have left The Engine [Music] House there the streets go to the curve stop gang way for fire [Music] engines firemen think first of people Trapped By Fire and they help them to escape next they fight to save the house and its Furnishings from damage by water fire and smoke with sawdust dams and dkes they try to limit damage to just one room the pump backs to the nearest hydrant and hose lines wind through the streets water drowns the fire 10 minutes after the alarm rings most fires are out

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