Old time fire videos

FDNY 1920's Stillman Fires Collection: Company Response B.A. & Company Fire 1965
Historic 16mm Films of the Birmingham Fire Department.
WORKING COMMERCIAL BUILDING FIRE-BIRMINGHAM (AL) 1965

Links to numerous historical fire videos
from the Timothy G. Stillman Collection. Ahh the days of riding the back step.
For some of us, these remain our fondest memories. A look back at history: 1965.
In Monroe County, we traveled around on Sundays
to participate in these types of competitions.

Boston Fire Department 1930s A look back: 1991 video of firefighters trapped in Springfield, Massachusetts. Old Fire Station #5 Austin, TX: 1953
A day in the life of an Austin firefighter in 1953
as filmed by the station captain, Victor Tiemann.

The Better Part - San Jose Fire Museum The Fireman - 1954
Social Guidance / Educational Documentary
A day in the life of a 1950's American fireman - taking care of equipment, practice drills, testing of trucks, hose & ladders before the siren sounds and then its off to a real house fire to extinguishing the blaze. Sirens In The Night (1972)
1972 Video documentary on the Jacksonville Fire Department and how it fared since becoming the first fire department in the nation to implement fire based delivery of Emergency Medical Services several years earlier.

Chicago Fire Dept
Chicago 2-1-2 The FULL Version
CHICAGO 2-1-2 is a 1957 tv pilot filmed in Chicago, about an arsonist. Classic and vintage Chicago Fire Department apparatus, Fire Alarm Office and old Chicago scenes.called "Chicago 2-1-2". In this episode, the fire department tries to find the person(s) behind a series of arson attacks. Aired on 30 April 1957 FDNY Ladder 43 Vintage Movie WINDJAMMER: The Voyage of Christian Radich (1958)
Published on Jan 18, 2014
Clip of Windjammer showing the Philadelphia Fire Department running historic apparatus during fire prevention week, Engine 20 and Ladder 23 making a run, and fire academy training.

1995 Detroit Apartment Fire Rescues (1:32) Fire fighters spray water on a burning building and policemen patrol the streets during riots in Washington D.C.
Aftermaths of Washington Riots in Washington D.C. United States soldiers of the 3rd Infantry patrol on streets. Army truck and other vehicles parked in front of a building. Board on the building reads 'Safeway'. Fire fighters spray water over a burning building. Heavy smoke rises from the building. Policemen and US soldiers patrol on the streets. Fire blazes from the burning building. Fire Fighters extinguish fire from a burning building during riots in Washington DC, United States.
Washington Riots break out in Washington DC. United States officers look at a map on a board. Officer reads out a document. American flag flutters on pole. Broken glass doors and windows of MacDonald's drive-in as a result of the riots. Fire fighters struggle to extinguish fire. They spray water on a burning building in 7th and O street in Washington DC. Location: Washington DC. Date: April 6, 1968.

Fire fighters struggle to extinguish fire from a burning building during riots in Washington D.C., United States.
Aftermath of Washington Riots in Washington D.C. Fire fighters stand near the fire brigade truck. They spray water on a building on fire. Smoke rises from the building. Fireman walks on road. Board on a building reads 'Super Market'. Police car drives past the fire brigade. Red light on the fire brigade. Burnt debris of the building. United States soldiers of the 3rd Infantry arrive in army jeeps. Location: Washington DC. Date: 1968. Fire fighters extinguish fire in a burning building during riots in Washington DC.
Washington Riots in Washington DC. Fire fighters spray water over a burning building. African American boy stands in the foreground. Civilians stand on a street. Fire blazes from buildings. Vehicles parked on road. Location: Washington DC. Date: April 6, 1968. Television screen shows police patrolling the streets after the riots in Washington D.C., United States.
Aftermaths of Washington Riots in Washington D.C. following assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Television screen (White House footage) shows police patrolling on the streets. African American men walk on street. Police throw tear gas at rioters. Damaged and broken shops. Patrol police comes out of a police van. Fire fighters spray water on a building on fire. Location: Washington DC. Date: April 1968.

United States soldiers of the 3rd Infantry patrol the streets during riots in Washington DC.
Aftermath of Washington Riots in Washington D.C. United States soldiers of the 3rd Infantry in army truck. Ambulance and the truck drive past on a road. Vehicles drive past the burning building. Board on the building reads 'Sten's'. Vehicles on the road. View of the burnt building. Traffic light in front of the building. United States 3rd Infantry soldiers and civilians on street. 'Bargain Town' written in front of a shopping Arcade. Location: Washington DC. Date: 1968 Damaged shops as a result of riots in Washington D.C., United States.
Aftermaths of Washington Riots in Washington D.C. Damaged shops on a street. Board on a shop reads 'Super Music City', 'Furniture Company', Surplus Outlet'. Civilians pick things from debris on a street. Location: Washington DC. Date: April 6, 1968 United States 3rd Infantry soldiers and civilians on a street during riots in Washington D.C., United States.
Aftermaths of Washington Riots in Washington D.C. African American people walk on a street. Fire brigade truck parked outside a burning building. United Stats 3rd Infantry soldiers patrol on street with rifles in hand. US soldier speaks to a woman. Civilians walk on streets. Location: Washington DC. Date: April 6, 1968

Damaged shops in the streets during riots in Washington D.C., United States.
Washington Riots break out in Washington DC. Civilians walk out of an optical shop. Men and women holding pile of goods in hands. Broken mannequins outside a damaged shop. Location: Washington DC. Date: April 6, 1968. LA County Fire in Malibu Mountains 1957
The Los Angeles (California) County Fire Department's fight against a fire in the Newton Canyon area of the Malibu Mountains on December 26, 1957. The fire covered 26,000 acres before containment and involved 2,000 men fighting it over three days and through the Santa Ana winds. The Wildfires of Bel-Air, Brentwood & Santa Ynez 1961
Design for Disaster - The Bel-Air, Brentwood, and Santa Ynez Fires of November, 1961. Homes and watershed burning. Future planning for prevention of similar tragedies are stressed.

Fire Department's dog, Bozo, participate in fire fighting missions
Fire Department's dog, Bozo, playing with a spray of water in Chicago, Illinois. Dog gets into a moving car. It looks at the oncoming traffic. Firefighters enter a smoking building carrying water hose in hands. Bozo follows them into the building. The dog chases the filming vehicle and gets overboard. (July 06,1931) Aerial & ground view from deadly Camden, NJ factory fire July 30, 1940
Firemen hose down the burning auto paint factory building in Camden, New Jersey. An auto paint factory in Camden, New Jersey catches fire. Aerial views of Camden shows smoke rising from the auto paint factory after it catches fire. Men carry out wooden furniture from the building. Firemen hose down the burning factory building. Location: Camden New Jersey. Date: July 31, 1940. Fire fighters extinguish Christmas Eve fire in Oval Office and West Wing 1929
Fire fighters extinguish Christmas Eve fire in Oval Office and West Wing of the White House in Washington D.C. Fire at the White House in Washington D.C., United States. Fire fighters climb up ladders to get to the roof and high windows of the building to extinguish the blaze. Fire trucks responding, and firemen using hoses to soak the blaze in the Oval Office and West Wing. Firemen bail water from flooded rooms. View of the White House building in the morning. Records, pictures, and furniture piled outside after being saved from the fire. Location: Washington DC. Date: December 24, 1929.

Hackensack Ford dealership fire that killed 5 firemen 1988
When firefighters responded to the Ford dealership on River Street in Hackensack 25 years ago, they did not know how deceptive the blaze would prove to be, nor how ill-equipped they were to fight it. They did not know that five of them would not survive. Vintage video from Chicago FD – 1964's 72-hours of fire
Chicago Fire Dept.-1964
"Busiest 72-Hours" in Chicago Fire Dept. history 11-12-64. This vid was shot/narrated by Larry Schreiner, a longtime Chicago reporter. I recently read that he had passed, and dug this gem out in his honor. RIP Larry. (R1 SmokeEater)
Chicago Fire Dept. - The 72 Hour Alarm
The 72 HOUR ALARM. A three day history of the Chicago Fire Department. Major extra alarm fires within a three day period starting November 12, 1964. (ChicagoFD1) If These Bricks Could Talk - NC
The oldest standing Fire Station in Charlotte, NC was built in 1909. Its future is uncertain. Like all great old buildings, this one's full of interesting stories that remind us of our link to the past. Vivid commentary is provided by Ted Alexander (Preservation North Carolina), Diane Althouse (Historic Charlotte), Charlotte Fire Chief Jon Hannan and retired Fireman Jim Jamison. Produced in cooperation with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission. (Donald Devet)

Grayson Lumber Fire, Birmingham Alabama 1966
A short pre-incident film showing the new fire suppression system at the Grayson Lumber company in 1965 followed by the massive fire in 1966. (Kevin Mcgough) Chicago Fire Dept. - The 72 Hour Alarm
The 72 HOUR ALARM. A three day history of the Chicago Fire Department. Major extra alarm fires within a three day period starting November 12, 1964. (ChicagoFD1) Chicago Fire Dept.-1964
"Busiest 72-Hours" in Chicago Fire Dept. history 11-12-64. This vid was shot/narrated by Larry Schreiner, a longtime Chicago reporter. I recently read that he had passed, and dug this gem out in his honor. RIP Larry.(R1 SmokeEater)

Firefighters Radio Program
In the 1940's and early 1950, there was a very popular "gather 'round the radio with your family" program called "Firefighters"

To Kolb

FDNY 1920's	Stillman Fires Collection: Company Response	B.A. & Company Fire 1965 Historic 16mm Films of the Birmingham Fire Department. WORKING COMMERCIAL BUILDING FIRE-BIRMINGHAM (AL) 1965
Links to numerous historical fire videos from the Timothy G. Stillman Collection.	Ahh the days of riding the back step. For some of us, these remain our fondest memories.	A look back at history: 1965. In Monroe County, we traveled around on Sundays to participate in these types of competitions.
Boston Fire Department 1930s	A look back: 1991 video of firefighters trapped in Springfield, Massachusetts.	Old Fire Station #5 Austin, TX: 1953 A day in the life of an Austin firefighter in 1953 as filmed by the station captain, Victor Tiemann.
The Better Part - San Jose Fire Museum	The Fireman - 1954 Social Guidance / Educational Documentary A day in the life of a 1950's American fireman - taking care of equipment, practice drills, testing of trucks, hose & ladders before the siren sounds and then its off to a real house fire to extinguishing the blaze.	Sirens In The Night (1972) 1972 Video documentary on the Jacksonville Fire Department and how it fared since becoming the first fire department in the nation to implement fire based delivery of Emergency Medical Services several years earlier.
Chicago Fire Dept Chicago 2-1-2 The FULL Version CHICAGO 2-1-2 is a 1957 tv pilot filmed in Chicago, about an arsonist. Classic and vintage Chicago Fire Department apparatus, Fire Alarm Office and old Chicago scenes.called "Chicago 2-1-2". In this episode, the fire department tries to find the person(s) behind a series of arson attacks. Aired on 30 April 1957	FDNY Ladder 43 Vintage Movie	WINDJAMMER: The Voyage of Christian Radich (1958) Published on Jan 18, 2014 Clip of Windjammer showing the Philadelphia Fire Department running historic apparatus during fire prevention week, Engine 20 and Ladder 23 making a run, and fire academy training.
1995 Detroit Apartment Fire Rescues (1:32)	Fire fighters spray water on a burning building and policemen patrol the streets during riots in Washington D.C. Aftermaths of Washington Riots in Washington D.C. United States soldiers of the 3rd Infantry patrol on streets. Army truck and other vehicles parked in front of a building. Board on the building reads 'Safeway'. Fire fighters spray water over a burning building. Heavy smoke rises from the building. Policemen and US soldiers patrol on the streets. Fire blazes from the burning building.	Fire Fighters extinguish fire from a burning building during riots in Washington DC, United States. Washington Riots break out in Washington DC. United States officers look at a map on a board. Officer reads out a document. American flag flutters on pole. Broken glass doors and windows of MacDonald's drive-in as a result of the riots. Fire fighters struggle to extinguish fire. They spray water on a burning building in 7th and O street in Washington DC. Location: Washington DC. Date: April 6, 1968.
Fire fighters struggle to extinguish fire from a burning building during riots in Washington D.C., United States. Aftermath of Washington Riots in Washington D.C. Fire fighters stand near the fire brigade truck. They spray water on a building on fire. Smoke rises from the building. Fireman walks on road. Board on a building reads 'Super Market'. Police car drives past the fire brigade. Red light on the fire brigade. Burnt debris of the building. United States soldiers of the 3rd Infantry arrive in army jeeps. Location: Washington DC. Date: 1968.	Fire fighters extinguish fire in a burning building during riots in Washington DC. Washington Riots in Washington DC. Fire fighters spray water over a burning building. African American boy stands in the foreground. Civilians stand on a street. Fire blazes from buildings. Vehicles parked on road. Location: Washington DC. Date: April 6, 1968.	Television screen shows police patrolling the streets after the riots in Washington D.C., United States. Aftermaths of Washington Riots in Washington D.C. following assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Television screen (White House footage) shows police patrolling on the streets. African American men walk on street. Police throw tear gas at rioters. Damaged and broken shops. Patrol police comes out of a police van. Fire fighters spray water on a building on fire. Location: Washington DC. Date: April 1968.
United States soldiers of the 3rd Infantry patrol the streets during riots in Washington DC. Aftermath of Washington Riots in Washington D.C. United States soldiers of the 3rd Infantry in army truck. Ambulance and the truck drive past on a road. Vehicles drive past the burning building. Board on the building reads 'Sten's'. Vehicles on the road. View of the burnt building. Traffic light in front of the building. United States 3rd Infantry soldiers and civilians on street. 'Bargain Town' written in front of a shopping Arcade. Location: Washington DC. Date: 1968	Damaged shops as a result of riots in Washington D.C., United States. Aftermaths of Washington Riots in Washington D.C. Damaged shops on a street. Board on a shop reads 'Super Music City', 'Furniture Company', Surplus Outlet'. Civilians pick things from debris on a street. Location: Washington DC. Date: April 6, 1968	United States 3rd Infantry soldiers and civilians on a street during riots in Washington D.C., United States. Aftermaths of Washington Riots in Washington D.C. African American people walk on a street. Fire brigade truck parked outside a burning building. United Stats 3rd Infantry soldiers patrol on street with rifles in hand. US soldier speaks to a woman. Civilians walk on streets. Location: Washington DC. Date: April 6, 1968
Damaged shops in the streets during riots in Washington D.C., United States. Washington Riots break out in Washington DC. Civilians walk out of an optical shop. Men and women holding pile of goods in hands. Broken mannequins outside a damaged shop. Location: Washington DC. Date: April 6, 1968.	LA County Fire in Malibu Mountains 1957 The Los Angeles (California) County Fire Department's fight against a fire in the Newton Canyon area of the Malibu Mountains on December 26, 1957. The fire covered 26,000 acres before containment and involved 2,000 men fighting it over three days and through the Santa Ana winds.	The Wildfires of Bel-Air, Brentwood & Santa Ynez 1961 Design for Disaster - The Bel-Air, Brentwood, and Santa Ynez Fires of November, 1961. Homes and watershed burning. Future planning for prevention of similar tragedies are stressed.
Fire Department's dog, Bozo, participate in fire fighting missions Fire Department's dog, Bozo, playing with a spray of water in Chicago, Illinois. Dog gets into a moving car. It looks at the oncoming traffic. Firefighters enter a smoking building carrying water hose in hands. Bozo follows them into the building. The dog chases the filming vehicle and gets overboard. (July 06,1931)	Aerial & ground view from deadly Camden, NJ factory fire July 30, 1940 Firemen hose down the burning auto paint factory building in Camden, New Jersey. An auto paint factory in Camden, New Jersey catches fire. Aerial views of Camden shows smoke rising from the auto paint factory after it catches fire. Men carry out wooden furniture from the building. Firemen hose down the burning factory building. Location: Camden New Jersey. Date: July 31, 1940.	Fire fighters extinguish Christmas Eve fire in Oval Office and West Wing 1929 Fire fighters extinguish Christmas Eve fire in Oval Office and West Wing of the White House in Washington D.C. Fire at the White House in Washington D.C., United States. Fire fighters climb up ladders to get to the roof and high windows of the building to extinguish the blaze. Fire trucks responding, and firemen using hoses to soak the blaze in the Oval Office and West Wing. Firemen bail water from flooded rooms. View of the White House building in the morning. Records, pictures, and furniture piled outside after being saved from the fire. Location: Washington DC. Date: December 24, 1929.
Hackensack Ford dealership fire that killed 5 firemen 1988 When firefighters responded to the Ford dealership on River Street in Hackensack 25 years ago, they did not know how deceptive the blaze would prove to be, nor how ill-equipped they were to fight it. They did not know that five of them would not survive.	Vintage video from Chicago FD – 1964's 72-hours of fire Chicago Fire Dept.-1964 "Busiest 72-Hours" in Chicago Fire Dept. history 11-12-64. This vid was shot/narrated by Larry Schreiner, a longtime Chicago reporter. I recently read that he had passed, and dug this gem out in his honor. RIP Larry. (R1 SmokeEater) Chicago Fire Dept. - The 72 Hour Alarm The 72 HOUR ALARM. A three day history of the Chicago Fire Department. Major extra alarm fires within a three day period starting November 12, 1964. (ChicagoFD1)	If These Bricks Could Talk - NC The oldest standing Fire Station in Charlotte, NC was built in 1909. Its future is uncertain. Like all great old buildings, this one's full of interesting stories that remind us of our link to the past. Vivid commentary is provided by Ted Alexander (Preservation North Carolina), Diane Althouse (Historic Charlotte), Charlotte Fire Chief Jon Hannan and retired Fireman Jim Jamison. Produced in cooperation with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission. (Donald Devet)
Grayson Lumber Fire, Birmingham Alabama 1966 A short pre-incident film showing the new fire suppression system at the Grayson Lumber company in 1965 followed by the massive fire in 1966. (Kevin Mcgough)	Chicago Fire Dept. - The 72 Hour Alarm The 72 HOUR ALARM. A three day history of the Chicago Fire Department. Major extra alarm fires within a three day period starting November 12, 1964. (ChicagoFD1)	Chicago Fire Dept.-1964 "Busiest 72-Hours" in Chicago Fire Dept. history 11-12-64. This vid was shot/narrated by Larry Schreiner, a longtime Chicago reporter. I recently read that he had passed, and dug this gem out in his honor. RIP Larry.(R1 SmokeEater)
Firefighters Radio Program In the 1940's and early 1950, there was a very popular "gather 'round the radio with your family" program called "Firefighters"

Old time fire video collection