The Story of a Firefighter [LAFD Classic]

[@mattp4007]

Great documentary. Spent 15 years on the job until I was injured. I miss it more than anything. Be safe brothers and sisters

[@icedwidow]

My grandpa was an engineer for LAFD. One of the first stations to use the jaws of life

[@terrywaters177]

I was on the LAFD for over 33 years. It was the 3rd best thing to happen in my life. Right behind marriage, and kids! I saw a lot of changes. Most of them great!! The Best Fire Department 🚒 🙂

[@74Spirit1]

Thank you for your service

[@kennethcochran7640]

Hey Captain Waters. I work as FF with you at 15's

[@The-GreenHornet]

My dad worked at LAFD 14's. for twenty years. "Changes for the better" you said? Maybe, but a lot of those changes like forced hiring and political correctness have ruined many aspects of the LAFD. Forced Hires, and Political Correctness is just a few issues that has ruined the LAFD. The younger generation has no reference nor clue to these Realities.

[@fcriii]

This is Gold!!Been a Fire Captain 5 plus years.

[@sebring1960]

Thank you so much for these clips. My Dad was LA city fireman from 1951 to 1976 and had retired with a disability pension. As much as I love and respect my Dad and his profession, these clips only reinforce my love and respect for my Dad. Again, Thanks.....

[@NotfallsRene]

"The house was saved" - made my day :D

[@buzman1985]

It’s an LAFD save.

[@timsmothers8740]

that gave me a chuckle also. The foundation probably didn"t even get saved. A great story though.

[@teresaneal1]

Such fond memories of my Dad. He was Captain on the L.A.F.D. the year this film was made. This is such a Cool film! Thanks for sharing!

[@dennistodd]

"79's" is still housed in the original structure at the intersection of Vermont Ave. & 182nd St. in the the Harbor Gateway District of the city of Los Angeles. The Seagrave 1250 was replaced by an ALF 1000 and, subsequently, with a Pierce 1500. An R.A. company was, eventually, added to the assignment... Captain Alan R. Evansen rose to the rank of Acting Chief Engineer of the L.A.F.D. in 1981...

[@emt5330]

Between John Gerard and Donald Manning?

[@dennistodd]

According to lafd.org - "in 1981, Acting Chief Engineer Alan R. Evanson created a committee to further support archiving history of the department". I couldn't find any information as to who, exactly, the Chief Engineer was, acting or otherwise, between Gerard's tenure, (June 30, 1977 to June 6, 1982) and the tenure of Manning (January 20, 1983 to 1995).

[@buzman1985]

Why are you making it plural? (79’s). It’s not possessive, 79 doesn’t own anything. It’s like saying Target’s, Costco’s, Headquarter’s, Auto Shop’s.

[@jonreese9254]

@@buzman1985 It's slang in the fire service, don't know that it started in LA, but is used pretty often when referring company numbers.

[@radnerbearman4224]

@@buzman1985 listen you clown that's how firefighters talk all over the US get a life your sure dont belong on the fire department

[@pigjubby1]

From a time when the crew cared for each other and did not spend their efforts in ridiculing the other men, filing complaints against other men and when the captains actually treated his crew like grown men, and was also competent to do the job. Once upon a time.......

[@Wa3ypx]

+pigjubby1 Your correct, partially. I'm exposed to guys that have learned, and valued experience of the old guys.

[@ironsurvival7011]

There why I’m glad I work at a smaller well funded department. 5 stations great city great crews great citizens

[@wolfyjoe1238]

Someone had a bad experience. My crew is great

[@SittingWithDogs]

This is awesome watching an aggressive attack by a department in the 60s

[@broncogirl8232]

Great video. I’m proud to be retired from the LAFD! Thing’s definitely had changed by the time I was hired in 1986. A few of my captains I worked for were on the job during this and they did pass from Cancer 😢

[@johnhemple7459]

wow we came a long way in fire fighting from when this was filmed hats off the early firefighters and the ones on duty today

[@HeresJohnny-b4u]

I grew up in the 1950's and 1960's in North Hollywood Ca. I loved watching those beautiful open cab CROWN firetrucks. Task Force 89.

[@Ragnar06]

I just saw this on Turner Classic Movie channel this morning. I am going to share this great look back in time to my firefighter family now.

[@FFTom2]

Great video, we have come a long way in the fire service but these videos I love watching still and I show my younger firefighters how they had bare necessities and still got the job done

[@aportman58]

I was promoted to captain in 1987 until i retired in 2000. Being the Captain was the best position in the fire department! I was actually a very captain, promoting the quickest of all other captains in the department. I wanted it! It was slightly stressful with a little anxiety for the first half dozen shifts. But after 2 - 3 decent structure fires, a few refinery explosions and fire, I was starting to feel pretty comfortable. Of course we had to be a Driver/Operator 3 years before challenging the Captain's exam, which during this period senior DOs would ride-up the seat to acting captain, to cover for the company officer's absence. By the time we officially made captain, we had already written up my 20--25 times or more since we would even be floated to other stations to ride-up.Se for the most transitioning to captain positions was smooth and really just another day in the Captain's seat!!!

[@shawnmcmahon3847]

I was a Air Force fighter stationed at Edward's AFB. I spoke with a LAFD recruiter I wish I had 60 credit hours to avoid that written test. I would be retiring now with memories to last forever.

[@taylor_smith]

That oral exam though😂 I guess some things never change

[@1999mikedunn]

Alan made it out of 9's...... (Skid Row fire department) and with just 5 years on. 30 years old. Impressive. That when we were FIREMEN.

[@navblue20]

Mike..... I'm a former United States Navy damage control man who is now a civilian firefighter here in my city you and Mr LaRue don't know the people I work with. And while the old timers do give good advice they can also get stuck way too much on the " traditions" of the department for example EMTs cannot command. A command officer in my opinion if he is proven himself shouldn't matter where he comes from you should have the respect of your crew and the only way to get the respect of your crew is to make sure that you understand how they feel yet can still rule your station not as a dictator but as a commander. Some men do not know that difference.

[@paulbraunstein2290]

Those mechanical sirens are wild

[@1999mikedunn]

LAFD did not issue BA's to all members until about 1978. And then if you used one they still considered you a wimp When I got on we still shared a face piece with the man you were relieving.

[@1999mikedunn]

Great video. 2 platoon. Fred Nuesca, two time medal of valor winner, came on in 1959.

[@robertwalton7307]

beautiful horseshoe load peeling out perfectly.

[@Mc007-]

Capt owes the crew ice cream for his first fire as a captain

[@grantmanning74]

Is Capt Evanston still alive? In 1964 I wrote to him after watching this programme on tv. Received a great reply from him.

[@davidbarrett8451]

Chief Evanson is still alive - he promoted all the way to acting Chief Engineer (Fire Chief) for the LAFD before retiring.

[@legomangamesnetwork1151]

4:55 those formulas are questions for the pump operator/engineer exam

[@mcfilthymcnasty8206]

Everyone of those guys, hard as nails .

[@Wa3ypx]

35 years on an urban city FD some things never change. Promotions can be bitter sweet. Like learning a new district AND crew.

[@charlesrudish9147]

No SCBA's, no boots, no gloves, basic hand tools, riding the tail board, apparatus one step up from horse drawn steam engines, yeah, those were the days all right. It's a wonder any of them lived past the age of 40.

[@ovar9000umad]

Back when experience, and actual job related tasks qualified someone. Not a degree that holds nothing.

[@emt5330]

An excellent look at the fire service in that point in history. Of course, being a New Yorker, I'm partial to "Man Alive: The Bronx is Burning " 😊. But this is a good film

[@thelastmiddleclass2490]

Damn, back when America was America

[@martym.6274]

I surely miss that 🇺🇸 America!

[@1999mikedunn]

Great video. Notice the facepiece pouch? The air raid helmets. The short sleeve standard captain uniform. The blue work uniform of the non rated members. This is an excellent video. The plastic eye goggles?

[@emt5330]

Mike Dunn non rated members?

[@areleesmith7914]

A few things missing in the fire scene that you'd hopefully see today include airflow control, rehab, and scba use (obviously haha). Tell me what I missed!

[@deltaforceairsoft3291]

Your right firefighting has come a long ways.

[@infinitecanadian]

Yet they are still heroes, no matter how far along fire fighting has come.

[@hammercandy]

the greatest fire dept on earth!

[@georgejones1389]

Fdny

[@k9spjack]

Many years ago when I was testing to become a Firefighter, I asked a Veteran Los Angeles County Fire Captain which was the best Fire Department in the Country. He told me, "listen carefully son, everyone thinks that their department is the best. But the greatest Fire Department is the one that's willing to hire you and PAY you to be a Firefighter."

[@johnhintz4760]

Crown Fire Coach they Still Rule the Streets L.A..And the state of California...The stopped making them in the late 80's or so..That and the Ward Lafrance P-80 Ambassador...The hardest working apparatus in America..

[@johnhintz4760]

Will-i-am95 Emergency!.. Season 3.the Plant in Elmira NY.had a tour Enroute to Universal studios. That series is beloved as much as Star Trek. BTW I love those Baker Platform CF's, the Mack C and CF models were in wide use well after the 90's..

[@BassmanII]

Two of the most recognized Mack customers in that era were both Buffalo FD and FDNY

[@happycommentator6773]

79's wagon sure looked good .

[@ronaldrobertson2332]

@@johnhintz4760 Mack CF 600.

[@teresalenaandprincessthedog]

Wow you are well educated thanks🚒🔥😇

[@alexjones8826]

The LAFD Before EMT's & PARAMEDIC'S Just FIREFIGHTER'S

[@stevecortes9216]

NO special effects here. Gutsiest camera man EVER!!

[@nicaln5104]

Watching this reminds me how good fog nozzles actually are.

[@ffrick73]

And my first thought was look at those garbage fog nozzles steaming those giys. Different strokes for different folks I guess

[@nicaln5104]

@@ffrick73 3 years later Fogs are dogshit

[@ffrick73]

​@@nicaln5104 experience is a good teacher

[@SittingWithDogs]

If we slept with no shirt on at the firehouse today we’d get our asses kicked

[@lovemetal2]

The way they attack this fire is horrifying, no safety at all just busting in an out of the place. Old school bad asses forsure goddamn, a different breed of smoke eaters...

[@teresalenaandprincessthedog]

Wow the olden days,, what a great documentary!! Does anyone know what year this was made? I was saver by a firefighter 🚒, you all are awesome heros😇 thank you so much!!🚒🔥💜🌶🌲🌻🥑☃️🐕🐾💚❄💜🌸

[@emt5330]

1962

[@ghuifgyudu]

I wish to be on the LAFD

[@kevinswinyer3176]

Why would a Captain order just one firefighter to take a handline through the front door on any Structure Fire ? I was always taught that no one ever goes inside alone, and if the low air bell rings on one firefighter's air pack, both firefighters must exit together.

[@emt5330]

Things were a lot different back then

[@andyhamilton8940]

Because they had balls. And it was 60 years ago.

[@mr.crighton9491]

In '76 or so, a Consent decree forced the LAFD to open up. It had been a family affair for years....fathers, sons, grandsons, etc. A great racket, and they hated opening it up. My brother was on the first minority class that graduated in 76. He thought he was joining the FD...instead, he told me he "joined the KKK". THe stuff that happened to him was off the charts, from the Bull Connor playbook. That went away when that generation retired; but what took its place was as distasteful------ fast forward to today, and he's disgusted with the "PC"FD, and so very glad to be out.

[@johnstagg7901]

My Dad was a captain during that time. If the liberal idiots had not ruined the fire department my Dad would have not retired and moved away. I would be a fireman in LA today. Unfortunately with racist affirmative action and a hate for whites in california and especially in LA we had no future there. The mexicans and the blacks ran us out and look at what LA is today. A third world sewer full of homeless and drug addicts. Great job jerry brown, dianne feinstein, barbara boxer, pelosi and newsom. You did a great job destroying california and LA.

[@teresalenaandprincessthedog]

Oh I noticed they were all white heros, well thank God I was born after all that stuff🐕🐾💚❄💜🌸🚒🔥😇yes j erry brown and the older ones

[@MIKECNW]

I'd like to think they're may have some who would have been nice and perhaps there were some instances. Of course why in 76 and not 66 when the civil rights movement was underway?

[@jimlucerino7703]

Those old timers went in with just works pants and duty boots?? Not even the old 3/4 boots?? Hard for me to imagine.

[@emt5330]

Jim Lucerino They did that until the 90's or so.

[@ronthemogul]

What year is this?

[@azff]

What year was this made?

[@davidbarrett8451]

the film was made by my father, Terry Sanders, in 1962 for David L Wolper Productions. It was part of the TV Series, "Story of..."

[@teresalenaandprincessthedog]

@@davidbarrett8451 wow thank you so much, I grew up on Bedford street, it does remind me of the old TV shows my Grandpa used to what thanks tell your dad thanks🌶🌲🌻🥑🚒🔥😇💚🐾🐕☃️🥑🐞

[@jimwilloughby]

I was a firefighter in Massachusetts from '74, until I retired in 2001. I remember seeing this documentary on TV. I always wondered why LA guys didn't wear any protective gear below the waist and on their feet. Can anyone fill me in as to why?

[@emt5330]

They did wear turnout pants at night. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but that is where the term bunker pants originated from, as they were put next to the bunk. That's just the way California departments did it, in some cases until the late 90's or so.

[@redfire5171]

back then they had different types of air pick but however how combat some of them or wear a mask but some of them ant Butler in the smoke-filled feel room

[@j.b.delaney3444]

Department I was with, he would have needed a MINIMUM of nine years before he could sit for a Captains test...3 years as a basic firefighter, 3 as a driver engineer, and 3 as a lieutenant. Realistically, it would be more like sixteen or seventeen years before he'd make Captain.

[@henerygreen578]

that house was saved???..... hate to see what is considered destroyed........

[@michaelbruchas6663]

Big $ if a David Wolper production,,,

[@Wa3ypx]

wow! some guys with demand scba, some with canisters, some with no protection

[@aaronandraquel]

What year did they change the helmet style and also when did they discontinue riding on the backboard of the engine?

[@lafd]

While we do not have specific dates on helmets, they have varied over the years. We are currently testing several different helmets in the field for a decision on which will become the department standard. Regarding riding the tailboard, that policy was changed in June 2005. Thanks for your questions!

[@aaronandraquel]

@@lafd 2005? Wow I would have guessed it was in the early 70's

[@ronaldrobertson2332]

I was the last guy to ride tailboard in Fremont, Nebraska in 1988.

[@stevenrobinson2381]

SCBA-Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. In 1963. Gee-if the City of San Diego had had those in 1956-my Dad-as well as 6 other men-might have lived into a ripe old age. Instead of succumbing to various cancers far earlier than usual. Excuse my bitterness-I miss my Dad-was very close to him.

[@TheDrummie1]

Did FF's back then jump straight to Captain or was this chap Lieutenant.? Great firefighting, watching some departments now it takes them 3 minutes to get out of the firehouse, and they immediately attack the fire with water taking up a hydrant on tne way in no walking around the street watching the house burn down.

[@lafd]

The LAFD does not have a Lieutenant rank. Captain I and Captain II then to the Chief ranks

[@redfire5171]

what was the color of the helmet back then of firefighters and officers

[@teresaneal1]

+Jacob Nicholas I believe the Helmet was Black. Then years Later they changed to Yellow. my Dad wore a Black Helmet during this period.

[@Channel51_LA]

by that time, the LAFD scheme was yellow for firefighters, orange for captains, white for chiefs.

[@johnjay7255]

Do we know what came of him and his family in the future years?

[@JamesSmith-ro2tz]

A FIREMAN!

[@daredneckskwad9917]

What Era is this from?

[@dannyb8839]

Filmed in 1962.

[@daredneckskwad9917]

Oh okay

[@1999mikedunn]

Video shows breath apparatus. Did they have ba's in 1962?

[@dannyb8839]

Mike Dunn SCBA's were invented in 1955.

[@ronaldrobertson2332]

When I came on as a volunteer in 1978, my old department was still using the old Scott Air Pac and Scott II A. Heavy, cumbersome sonovabitchs. Weighed thirty pounds with only twenty minutes of air, if you controlled your breathing.

[@74Spirit1]

Before the electric tones The real Rescue 8

[@johnwrigley1624]

azff,Says 1962 on the credits.

[@martym2694]

What year was this filmed?

[@nightwatchman4093]

+Marty M Credits say 1962.

[@davidbarrett8451]

1962.

[@randygravel2057]

I made my captain cry once.

[@teresalenaandprincessthedog]

Why?

[@AlejandroHernandez-ht9qb]

That was in highland park right ?

[@lindanwfirefighter4973]

Highland park is a suburb is Detroit no?

[@abegumroyan]

Alejandro Hernandez this is filmed at old fire station 22 ... south central LA ... 22s closed in 1980

[@Channel51_LA]

@@lindanwfirefighter4973 there's also a Highland Park in Los Angeles.

[@lindanwfirefighter4973]

@@Channel51_LA thank you.

[@thereal420zzz]

this is my uncle i swear

[@juliusceasar6002]

still alive?, just wonderin

[@emt5330]

The latest info I could find, yes.

[@stephenbritton9297]

So much changes, but the "job" stays the same.

[@juliusceasar6002]

so thirteenth minute captaining a fire vs being a ff is a big deal, ???

[@emt5330]

Yes. As opposed to being a ff and taking orders, now you are giving them. And you are responsible for the safety of your crew

[@MICHAEL-lx5cy]

I still don't understand why L.A Fire doesn't have Shields on their helmets?!?!!? I just makes me scents!!!!!

[@davidrogers6287]

New style helmet now and shields

[@andyhamilton8940]

KMG365!

[@alexjones8826]

LAFD ENGINE 79

[@wiggerj0nes104]

ENGINE 79 & RESCUE'S 79 & 879

[@lablaine1981]

1961 dodge cheif buggy...

[@MIKECNW]

You would think FM would be required to be dressed so it wouldn't take as long for them to get ready. Is Chicago the only city that has residential requirements for firefighters to live within the city limits?

[@mamarine81]

Boston requires residency.

[@harveyglick6344]

MIKECNW Who cares?

[@davidbarrett8451]

San Pedro is in Los Angeles

[@bigman10239]

David Wolper made this movie? the David L Wolper who directed willy wonka and the chocolate factory!

[@davidbarrett8451]

Two time academy award winning producer Terry Sanders made the film. He worked at the time for David Wolper Productions - the same David Wolper you referred to.

[@teresalenaandprincessthedog]

@@davidbarrett8451 wow that's awesome🐾🚒🔥😇🐾🎬

[@yakacm]

There seems to be a strange homoerotic undertow to this film, either intended or unintended, all that topless fireman beefcake on show, lol.

[@eddierodrgz77]

Looking at Highland Park back in the day, when it was a beautiful community.

[@adventureguy4119]

The amount of Crap paid departments require is nuts. Volly, does the same thing just as effectivy with less training and not as expensive quiptment

[@ntstick06]

Fake news

[@AlleyCat643]

If your spelling is any indication of how “effectivy” you are, you’re not making a very good case...

[@paulojorgemachado5573]

and one thing none of them is fat or overweight something we don't see today and today we have gyms and ...

[@throttlegalsmagazineaustra7361]

Vols like you are arseholes

[@crankshaft383]

Some people have no idea what they're talking about...

[@throttlegalsmagazineaustra7361]

Nice '54 Sports Coupe he's driving.

[@thomastesh1639]

Winston Salem Fire Dept.-68-70-Riots-General Firefighting-Rookie School-A Job You Never Forget-I Worked With Some Great Men!! Who Taught Me Well. I Would Love To Go Back and Do It All Again.Thank You God For Protecting Me and Giving Me The Knowledge and Ability To Do This For Myself and To Protect Others. tom tesh-27019