Chief Kenlons Ride

Length: 3 Minutes | Produced:1940s

A fire alarm sounds, and the men spring into action! Fire trucks go racing down the snow covered streets of New York City, dangerous streets, forcing citizens out of the way. Even still, some sidewalk driving is necessary! Arriving at the five alarm fire, smoke pours from every opening. This is just the beginning of this fine firefighting film.On the Governors Island, the barracks were consumed in fire. Nothing but rubble was left from the fire. Only small parts of the foundation remain. The expansion of a skyscraper bursts into flames in the Netherlands. Battling the blaze will require firemen gear and fire fighting tools used to perfection. Part of a shopping section of 5th Avenue in New York catches fire. Not all of the firefighters will survive

Five Fires

Length: 11 Minutes | Produced:1940s

This great Stillman Collection Fire video shows smoking hot footage of fires in a hotel in Chicago, Weekawken Pier, San Francisco, a barrack in Tokyo, a post exchange in Yokohama, some pulpwood in Canada, the Staten Island Ferry in New York. The film contains graphic footage for its vintage date, including burn victims and the recently deceased. But the main focus of this explosive film is on the flaming carnage that demolishes all it comes in contact with.

Empire State Building

Length: 5 Minutes | Produced:1940s

The Stillman Fires Collection contains this gem: footage of the wreckage caused by a plane crashing into the Empire State building in 1945! The incredible video of this dramatic destruction is made only more otherworldly since the attacks of September 11th. All the terrifying aspects of real life firefighting are shown in (sometimes) gory detail. This is an amazing short film about vintage fire fighting and one of Americas most identifiable symbols in the midst of tragedy.

SS Normandie Fires

Length: 12 Minutes | Produced:1940s

This dramatic vintage firefighting video contains bracing footage of heroic firefighters battling raging blazes. The jewel of the film is the battling of an out of control fire on the famous SS Normandie ocean liner. Four other fires are featured: a lumber yard (yikes!), a street fire, a crowded apartment building, and finally a casino. This is breathtaking firefighting footage.

Dashes of NYPD

Length: 11 Minutes | Produced:1940s

This video introduces viewers to the New York City Fire Department as it was operated in the 1920s. Before running with the incredible firefighting video clips, the silent footage starts an absorbing explanation of the NYFDs fire fighting equipment and fire alarm system that keeps track of calls and alerts across the city. The film then treats viewers to a thrilling ride in the fire chiefs car! Using a camera mounted on the high speed vehicle, the action races across the screen as the fire chief breaks all the rules of driving to get to the fire - including sidewalk driving!Arriving on the scene, there is a five alarm fire in progress! The brave firefighters use the fire hose and the fire extinguishers and all their firemen gear in order to save the building from ruin. Dashes of NYFD is a spectacular firefighting history film.

New York City Fires 1

Length: 10 Minutes | Produced:1940s

Various fires fires from around New York from the 20s - 50s

New York City Fires 2

Length: 13 Minutes | Produced:1940s

Various fires fires from around New York from the 20s - 50s

New York City Fires 3

Length: 11 Minutes | Produced:1940s

Various fires fires from around New York from the 20s - 50s, including a large boat fire

NY City Fire Department

Length: 12 Minutes | Produced:1940s

This vintage firefighting film features the legendary New York Fire Department. Footage from the NYFD battling in brooklyn and ocean liners off the coast makes for engaging viewing. Other fires are also documented in this short video: the horrible destruction of a rubber factor and also an oil refinery. The New York Fire Department movie is a great classic film experience.

NY Fire Department Chief Officers

Length: 10 Minutes | Produced:1940s

Fire chiefs have always been honorable and repected members of society and this great vintage film features various New York Fire Department chiefs from the early 20th century. The film of course contains tremendous firefighting footage, but theres also intriguing shots of the technological upgrades that the fire fighting center was installing at the time. This is a wide ranging vintage firefighting film that contains superb moving images.

Lumberyard Fire

Length: 12 Minutes | Produced:1940s

The first part of this video shows a variety of fires around New York City along with firefighting video clips. The FDNY New York City fire department has to tackle anything from residential and industrial fires. Men would sometimes climb to the tops of roofs to fight these fires. Also, it was no uncommon for there to be so much water during a fire that the men would be knee deep in water and have to wade around. This video also ended by showing rubble from after a fire and the fire trucks leaving.The second part of the video highlighted one special fire. This fire was next to a river. The firefighters battled the fire on land on one side and used a boat with jets to fight the fire on the other side. The firefighting technology (fire hose nozzle, fire fighting tools) are antiquated now, which makes for interesting viewing.

Albany St. Lumberyard Fire

Length: 11 Minutes | Produced:1940s

This Stillman Fire Collection video is a cornucopia of vintage firefighting from early 20th century America. Fire breaks out in residential areas of Florida, and soon the entire areas are engulfed in flames. A fire also takes place on Albany St. in Boston. There is so much smoke the sky is nearly all black. They even resort to shooting water from ships to help with the firefighting.The South End Piano Factory is also unlucky as fire claims its next victim. The firefighters desperately try to cool and clear as much lumber as possible. But it all looks too late as fire has claimed this building too. The video next shows a barn that has spontaneously combusted into flames. The barn begins to collapse, and, finally, the roof caves in. Oil fields, rubber tires, and a warehouse are all victims of fire too. These three can create so much black smoke that the sky cannot be seen, and it is difficult to ever see the men trying to stop the fire. The film contains much, much more powerful firefighting footage than what has been described and is an excellent collection.

New York Fires Miscellaneous 1

Length: 12 Minutes | Produced:1940s

New York Fires Miscellaneous 2

Length: 13 Minutes | Produced:1940s

New York City Various Fires

Length: 10 Minutes | Produced:1940s

Bigger And Better

Length: 12 Minutes | Produced:1940s

This video from the Stillman fires collection is action action action, with nothing but roaring destructive fires and the brave firefighters who thwart them - and its in color! Firefighting is difficult when a giant cruise ship is ablaze. The courageous fire fighters in their fire trucks and firefighting tools do their best but the ship will not recover from such a devastating inferno, but forunately the awe inspiring footage of the ships demise has been preserved! Of note is also a grand old church burning from the inside. The camera work here is excellent, as the fire can be seen clearly through the church windows. This is a fun vintage fire video.

Glimpses of Greater Alarms

Length: 12 Minutes | Produced:1940s

A video of classic fires from the 1920s! This sturdy film features footage of fires being fought with brave firemen high atop precariously placed ladders. Also, rare footage of firefighting in winter is shown.

First Alarms

Length: 6 Minutes | Produced:1940s

First Alarms is a collection of firefighting videos from the 1940s. Included are several different kind of fires, including cars on fire, grass fires, and apartment fires. Throughout, great shots of vintage firetrucks and firefighters are shown.

Flitful Flashes of First Alarms

Length: 11 Minutes | Produced:1940s

Flitful Flashes at First Alarms is an intensely detailed classic video which overviews how fire fighting systems operated in the 1930s. From the call to the punch cards to the men charging out of the station, every aspect of historic fire fighting is covered. The different situations firefighters face are explored, including what to do when theres no fire hydrant in the area! Flitful Flashes at First Alarms is an educational film which provides great historical insight.