WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:14.400 Five bells, stand by all stations. 00:14.400 --> 00:17.600 Attention, all districts, a five alarm fire. 00:17.600 --> 00:19.600 Five bells, move in immediately. 00:19.600 --> 00:22.800 That's it, let's go, let's go. 00:22.800 --> 00:34.800 Fire fighters! 00:34.800 --> 00:51.800 Presenting Fire Fighters, the true to life story of our unsung heroes who stand ready to ride by day or night against our most murderous enemy, the Demon of Fire. 00:51.800 --> 01:01.800 In just a minute, we'll visit Chief Cody in his office at Fire Department headquarters, where he has just asked an important question of Jimmy and Trudy, brother and sister of Tim Collins, the young fireman. 01:01.800 --> 01:21.800 But before we hear the answer, here is a message. 01:21.800 --> 01:35.800 Let's go, Fire Fighters, let's go to Fire Department headquarters, where you remember Chief Cody has been telling Jimmy and Trudy Collins the story of the big fire, the conflagration of years ago that almost burned the whole city to the ground. 01:35.800 --> 01:38.800 And as the Chief ends his account, Trudy Collins asks. 01:38.800 --> 01:45.800 But Chief Cody, well you said they had fire engines and ladder trucks and hundreds and hundreds of men. Why did the big fire get away from them? 01:45.800 --> 01:49.800 Didn't he say the wind was blowing all the time? Steady, all three days the fire was burning? 01:49.800 --> 01:51.800 You keep still, Jimmy Collins, you aren't there. 01:51.800 --> 01:53.800 She's got you on that point, Jimmy. 01:53.800 --> 01:56.800 Oh golly, the way you told it, I felt as if I was there. 01:56.800 --> 01:59.800 Well if you'd been there, you'd be your own grandfather. It was so long ago. 01:59.800 --> 02:09.800 If it was so long ago. And that's the answer to your question, Trudy. How the fire got away from the department and burned for three days and might have gone on and burned out the whole city. 02:09.800 --> 02:11.800 If they hadn't stopped it would blast, Brother. 02:11.800 --> 02:15.800 That's right. You see, in the old days they didn't know as much about fire prevention as we do now. 02:15.800 --> 02:18.800 Oh, maybe that's why we don't have so many big, terrible fires. 02:18.800 --> 02:26.800 Yes it is one reason, Trudy. Cleaning up the city, storing things carefully, building houses and factories and so on that resist fire. 02:26.800 --> 02:30.800 All those things prevent a blaze from spreading too far, too fast. 02:30.800 --> 02:33.800 And you said the architects give us better architecture. 02:33.800 --> 02:34.800 Oh they do not. 02:34.800 --> 02:36.800 They do too. Chief Cody said so. He said... 02:36.800 --> 02:39.800 He didn't say architecture. He said... 02:39.800 --> 02:43.800 Oh golly, you got me mixed up, Trudy. Now I don't know what's the right way to say it. 02:43.800 --> 02:44.800 Could it be architecture? 02:44.800 --> 02:49.800 Well that's what I said, practically. Chief Cody, you said the big fire happened on a kind of a bed kind of roof. 02:49.800 --> 02:55.800 Yes, the Mansard roof. A very convenient kind of architecture, but it had a lot of exposed woodwork. 02:55.800 --> 02:58.800 And the big fire ate its way through block after block of those roofs. 02:58.800 --> 03:03.800 So now they don't architect roofs that aren't safe anymore, because they know more about fire prevention. 03:03.800 --> 03:08.800 Yeah. Well how about it, kids? Why don't you put the story of the big fire into that play of yours, huh? 03:08.800 --> 03:11.800 The fire prevention play that you're going to give at Northside School. 03:11.800 --> 03:12.800 Hey Trudy, that's an idea. 03:12.800 --> 03:14.800 Oh Jimmy, do you think we could? 03:14.800 --> 03:17.800 We can ask Miss Gravel, can't we? There's no harm in asking, is there? 03:17.800 --> 03:20.800 Oh thanks, Chief Cody. You always give us brand new ideas. 03:20.800 --> 03:23.800 Thanks a lot, Chief. And thanks for the story too about the big fire. 03:23.800 --> 03:27.800 You're welcome, kids. Now run along home and get to work on that play. 03:27.800 --> 03:31.800 Time I gave a little attention to this department business on my desk. 03:31.800 --> 03:37.800 As Jimmy and Trudy hasten homeward, full of plans for rewriting the fire prevention play, 03:37.800 --> 03:41.800 their firefighters brigade is to present an assembly at Northside School, 03:41.800 --> 03:46.800 Chief Cody digs into the pile of reports, applications, and correspondence on his desk, 03:46.800 --> 03:48.800 losing himself from his work and to... 03:48.800 --> 03:57.800 Yes, Glover, what is it? Private Collins? What's he doing here at this time of day? 03:57.800 --> 04:02.800 Says I sent for him? All right, Glover, send him in. 04:02.800 --> 04:08.800 Great blistering blazes. What did I want to see Hooksy Collins about? 04:08.800 --> 04:12.800 Private Collins reporting, sir. Tighten that knot in your tie, Private. 04:12.800 --> 04:16.800 Yes, sir. Yeah, that's better. What's that on the sleeve of your jacket? 04:16.800 --> 04:20.800 Where, sir? That thread. Looks all of six inches long. Pick it up. 04:20.800 --> 04:23.800 Yes, sir. Don't ever forget the details, Collins. 04:23.800 --> 04:26.800 A good fireman keeps himself smart, inside and out. That's important. 04:26.800 --> 04:28.800 Yes, sir. Don't neglect your uniform. 04:28.800 --> 04:32.800 No, sir. Yeah, well then... Sir? 04:32.800 --> 04:35.800 I didn't say anything, Collins. Don't keep interrupting. 04:35.800 --> 04:41.800 No, sir. Well then, Collins, I hope you know why you're here in my office. 04:41.800 --> 04:44.800 Yes, sir. You sent for me, Chief Cody. 04:44.800 --> 04:49.800 Oh, I did. And naturally, you know why I sent for you. 04:49.800 --> 04:54.800 Well, no, sir. I don't. Oh, you don't, do you? 04:54.800 --> 04:57.800 Well, no, sir, but may I ask a question, sir? 04:57.800 --> 04:59.800 You may. 04:59.800 --> 05:03.800 Now, don't get mad now, Chief, but do you know why you sent for me, sir? 05:03.800 --> 05:08.800 Private Collins, that's... You young whippersnapper, you. 05:08.800 --> 05:10.800 You caught the old man off guard. 05:10.800 --> 05:13.800 I hope you knew what I wanted, and maybe I could worm it out of you. 05:13.800 --> 05:18.800 Oh, don't let it bother you, Chief. None of the boys can figure out how you keep track of everything as much as you do. 05:18.800 --> 05:22.800 I'm getting old, Collins. This working 48 hours a day slowing me down. I'm losing my memory. 05:22.800 --> 05:23.800 No, not you, Chief. 05:23.800 --> 05:25.800 Well, this time I'll have to ask Glover what I... 05:25.800 --> 05:26.800 Your clerk, Chief? Yeah. 05:26.800 --> 05:31.800 Well, Glover said when I was coming in he has the reports from promotional school when you want them. 05:31.800 --> 05:35.800 That's it. That's what I wanted to see you about, Collins. Your record at promotional school. 05:35.800 --> 05:37.800 Oh, I had the usual notice through the mail, sir. 05:37.800 --> 05:41.800 Yes, yes, the notice that you completed the course to the satisfaction of your instructors. 05:41.800 --> 05:42.800 Yes, sir. 05:42.800 --> 05:48.800 But your actual rating, Collins, your rank in the class you train with, that's what decides how soon you're eligible for promotion. 05:48.800 --> 05:50.800 Oh, yes, sir, but they don't tell us how we made out, Chief. 05:50.800 --> 05:55.800 No, that's confidential. But I can tell you this much. You finished among the first three, Collins. 05:55.800 --> 05:56.800 Oh, good grief. 05:56.800 --> 06:01.800 Yes, sir, a mighty fine score, boy. And I tell you this because I've got a problem on my hands. 06:01.800 --> 06:06.800 Now two of your group, you three who finished at the top of the list, are going to be promoted. 06:06.800 --> 06:11.800 Oh, then the problem is which two of us three jumped from private to lieutenant. 06:11.800 --> 06:13.800 That's it, Collins. We have two openings for new officers. 06:13.800 --> 06:20.800 Yes, sir. Well, whatever you decide, Chief, I know we'll all be satisfied even though I don't know who the other two men are. 06:20.800 --> 06:23.800 They're good men, both of them. It's a tough choice, Collins. 06:23.800 --> 06:27.800 You see, we need officers for one of the latter companies and for an engine company, too. 06:27.800 --> 06:31.800 And, well, any of you three would fill the bill exactly for either post. 06:31.800 --> 06:33.800 Well, Chief Cody, I... 06:33.800 --> 06:34.800 Yes, Collins? 06:34.800 --> 06:39.800 Chief, a long time ago when I first got my appointment to the department... 06:39.800 --> 06:42.800 Not so long ago, boy, when you're as old as I am. 06:42.800 --> 06:46.800 I can remember when your own dad got his appointment and, well, to me it's just like yesterday. 06:46.800 --> 06:53.800 Well, I was thinking about my father, sir. When I got my appointment, you gave me a choice, do you remember, Chief? 06:53.800 --> 06:57.800 Yes, you said you wanted to do as much firefighting experience as you could get all through the department. 06:57.800 --> 06:58.800 Yes, sir. 06:58.800 --> 06:59.800 Wanted to follow in your dad's footsteps. 06:59.800 --> 07:06.800 Yes, sir. And since then I've served with all three ones. The latter company dad started in and I've served with engine 209. 07:06.800 --> 07:08.800 I think I see what you're getting at. 07:08.800 --> 07:15.800 Yes, sir. Chief, I worked hard at promotional school, but, well, I'm glad I'm eligible for one of those lieutenancies. 07:15.800 --> 07:16.800 But... 07:16.800 --> 07:18.800 But maybe you'd rather have a transfer instead. 07:18.800 --> 07:19.800 Could I, Chief? 07:19.800 --> 07:20.800 To what division, Collins? 07:20.800 --> 07:26.800 Oh, I don't know yet, sir. Good grief, this came so fast. I just haven't thought. 07:26.800 --> 07:27.800 Well, go home and think it over then. 07:27.800 --> 07:29.800 Yes, sir. I'd like to talk it over with Mom. 07:29.800 --> 07:33.800 Good idea, Collins. Your mother knows as much about the department as any man on the force. 07:33.800 --> 07:36.800 Ah, Dad used to call Mom his deputy when he was Chief. 07:36.800 --> 07:40.800 She'd have made a good one if she didn't have all you young Collins' to raise. 07:40.800 --> 07:45.800 Well, go talk to her, son. Make up your mind and when you're ready we'll discuss that transfer. 07:46.800 --> 07:52.800 Meanwhile, at the Collins' home, Trudy and Jimmy are deep in preparation for their fire prevention play. 07:52.800 --> 07:54.800 Jimmy is complaining. 07:54.800 --> 07:59.800 Ah, gee. What are we going to do about Miss Gravel, Trudy? We know she'll want us to put on her old pageant anyway. 07:59.800 --> 08:05.800 Oh, but didn't we decide about that, Jimmy? That would be nice to Miss Gravel and get her old pageant over with and then we could do my play. 08:05.800 --> 08:08.800 Sure, but now what? Now we've got three plays. 08:08.800 --> 08:11.800 Three plays? Well, who else wrote a play? You never told me that. 08:11.800 --> 08:16.800 No, I mean now we've got Miss Gravel's pageant and we got to play about firemen you wrote yourself. 08:16.800 --> 08:19.800 And now we've got to write another one about the big fire Chief Cody told us about. 08:19.800 --> 08:22.800 Well, I know. Let's make them all into one play. 08:22.800 --> 08:24.800 Gosh, that would take all day and all night. 08:24.800 --> 08:27.800 Oh, my goodness, Jimmy. Don't you know anything about plays at all? 08:27.800 --> 08:32.800 I know plenty about plays. I guess I heard plenty of plays on the radio. More than you even because I'm two years older. 08:32.800 --> 08:36.800 Oh, don't be silly. Those two years before I got here you were only a baby. 08:36.800 --> 08:40.800 Bet you never listened to the radio or anything else. So you haven't either heard more plays than me. 08:40.800 --> 08:41.800 Well... 08:41.800 --> 08:46.800 If you knew anything at all you'd know how they do. They say, uh, meanwhile, and then they tell you what's happening somewhere else. 08:46.800 --> 08:53.800 Oh, I get it. Say, supposing we're acting out your fireman's play. The announcer says something like, uh, well, meanwhile, 08:53.800 --> 09:00.800 the spirit of fire prevention is over somewhere else defending our citizens and all the other stuff just like Miss Gravel wrote it out. 09:00.800 --> 09:07.800 That's right, Jimmy. Maybe while we're acting out my play the announcer says, meanwhile, outside the big fire is raging and ravaging 09:07.800 --> 09:09.800 and eating up everything with its octopus tongue. 09:09.800 --> 09:11.800 What kind of a tongue is that? 09:11.800 --> 09:14.800 The big fire has eight tongues, like an octopus. 09:14.800 --> 09:15.800 Gee, you sure, Trudy? 09:15.800 --> 09:17.800 Well, come on, we'll look it up and start writing. 09:17.800 --> 09:23.800 Oh, no, it's too soon before supper. I'm too hungry to write. Let's rehearse instead. Let's do the big fight part. 09:23.800 --> 09:27.800 Yes, if we're going to act out my play I wrote on the stage and have the announcer meanwhile all the rest. 09:27.800 --> 09:32.800 Come on, Trudy. I'll be the fireman and you'll be the arsonier. I mean, arsonist. The one that starts the fire. 09:32.800 --> 09:34.800 I haven't written out all the speeches yet. 09:34.800 --> 09:37.800 Who cares? We can make them up. You know, just like a fight on the radio. 09:37.800 --> 09:43.800 All right, but don't knock anything over like the last time. Now you catch me sneaking away from the burning building, Jimmy. 09:43.800 --> 09:48.800 Well, halt. Stop or I shoot. I mean, don't stir a step or I'll let you have it. 09:48.800 --> 09:49.800 Well, now, I... 09:49.800 --> 09:50.800 Stop. You can't get away with it. 09:50.800 --> 09:52.800 Hey, hey, everybody. I'm home. 09:52.800 --> 09:54.800 Stop it. I said you can't get away with it. 09:54.800 --> 09:56.800 Good grief. What's going on in there? 09:56.800 --> 09:57.800 You beat your head. 09:57.800 --> 09:59.800 Hey, Trudy. Jimmy. 09:59.800 --> 10:00.800 I'm getting away from here. 10:00.800 --> 10:01.800 No, you don't. 10:01.800 --> 10:02.800 Yes, I do. 10:01.800 --> 10:02.800 Take that. 10:02.800 --> 10:03.800 No, you don't. 10:03.800 --> 10:04.800 You arsonier. Ouch. 10:04.800 --> 10:05.800 Don't hit the floor. 10:05.800 --> 10:06.800 Hey, hey, hey. What goes on? 10:06.800 --> 10:07.800 I'll beat your ears down. 10:07.800 --> 10:11.800 No, you don't. I'll break it up. Break it up. Cut it out. Cut it out. What's got into you? 10:11.800 --> 10:15.800 Oh, the lamp. Oh, Jimmy. We knocked over the lamp again. 10:15.800 --> 10:18.800 Oh, golly. It's all right, though. It didn't break anymore. 10:18.800 --> 10:19.800 What's the matter here? 10:19.800 --> 10:21.800 Jimmy, Trudy, I'm ashamed of you two. 10:21.800 --> 10:23.800 Oh, hello, Tim. Did you see our play? 10:23.800 --> 10:27.800 Just like the radio, Tim. Did you hear us going, no, you don't, like in the big fight scene. 10:27.800 --> 10:30.800 Oh, good grief. And I almost sent for the rescue squad. 10:30.800 --> 10:33.800 Rescue squad? I wonder. 10:33.800 --> 10:35.800 Hey, Mom. Mom, I've got to talk to you. 10:35.800 --> 10:39.800 Now, what do you suppose he's got to talk to Mom about all of a sudden? 10:39.800 --> 10:43.800 Jimmy and Trudy can't guess, but maybe you know what Tim Collins has in mind 10:43.800 --> 10:46.800 when he rushes off to talk to his mother about the rescue squad. 10:46.800 --> 10:50.800 And maybe your guess is right, because you heard Chief Cody's offer 10:50.800 --> 10:54.800 to transfer Tim to any division of the fire department he might choose. 10:54.800 --> 11:00.800 So, to find out if your guess is right, listen to our next true to life episode of the Firefighters. 11:00.800 --> 11:07.800 In just a moment, Chief Bob Cody will tell you boys and girls 11:07.800 --> 11:10.800 how you can help the firefighters in your own town. 11:10.800 --> 11:12.800 But first, here is a message you ought to hear. 11:12.800 --> 11:14.800 Firefighters 11:18.800 --> 11:22.800 And now Chief Bob Cody with a special notice for the Firefighters Brigade. 11:22.800 --> 11:23.800 Chief Cody. 11:23.800 --> 11:28.800 Hello, boys and girls. This is Chief Cody with another word about those handy little fire extinguishers. 11:28.800 --> 11:31.800 One of the most common is the little carbon tetrachloride extinguisher. 11:31.800 --> 11:37.800 And best of all, this vaporizing liquid extinguisher can be used on any kind of fire. 11:37.800 --> 11:40.800 Now, that's worth remembering for home protection. So long for now. 11:40.800 --> 11:45.800 Fire Chief Cody and the young rookie fireman Tim Collins will be back on the same station the next time you hear... 11:49.800 --> 11:51.800 That's it. Let's go! 11:57.800 --> 12:00.800 Let's go! Firefighters! 12:00.800 --> 12:07.800 Firefighters is a copyrighted feature of William F. Holland Productions.