May 01, 2015 02:04 PM
1530 Views
The 50-minute, professional documentary from filmmaker and firefighter David Wittkower tells the story of wildland firefighting, particularly the hotshot crews who operate on foot with hand tools to contain the spread of wildland fires.
The video is an excellent overview of all aspects of wildland firefighting and makes a valuable training tool for firefighter recruits as well as fire dispatchers by explaining wildland terminology and the role - and risk - taken by handcrews.
Wittkower takes a close look at the role of woman on the hot shot crews, as well as the place of inmate crews, of Indian crews, aircraft firefighting, and other components of wildland firefighting, and includes an eloquent and emotional retrospective of the Mann Gulch and Storm King Mountain tragedies and the impact they had on wildland firefighting protocols.
Because of its size and scope, fighting a wildland fire is far different that putting out a structure fire. As Wittkower suggests, wildland firefighting is like going to war,
with an organized plan of attack necessary for a successful and safe outcome.
"Everything that is involved in taking and holding terrain, all those aspects of strategy work, the business of moving troops,
the business of holding troops in reserve, it had an air force, it had an infantry, it even, by God, has paratroopers.
All of these things happen out there, " says Michael Thoele, author of Fire Line, one of many experts interviewed on the video.
Wittkower briefly acknowledges the various support components that go into managing a large-scale wildfire,
while concentrating on the troops that work the front lines. It's a compelling look at the nature of wildland firefighting and the men and women who operate on the front lines.
