WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:17.040 Five bells, stand by all stations. 00:17.040 --> 00:22.800 Attention, all districts, a five alarm fire, five bells, move in immediately. 00:22.800 --> 00:24.680 That's it, let's go! 00:24.680 --> 00:26.160 Let's go! 00:26.160 --> 00:35.520 Fire fighters! 00:35.520 --> 00:40.720 Presenting Fire Fighters, the true to life story of our unsung heroes. 00:40.720 --> 00:51.280 We stand ready to ride by day or night against our most murderous enemy, the Demon of Fire. 00:51.280 --> 00:56.560 In just a moment, we'll join Chief Cody and rookie fireman Tim Collins aboard the fire launch, 00:56.560 --> 01:00.400 speeding closer and closer toward danger in the middle of the harbor. 01:00.400 --> 01:05.120 Off their port bow, the tugboat is struggling bravely against wind and tide, 01:05.120 --> 01:09.600 its steel cable taut against the weight of the clumsy barge which it tows. 01:09.600 --> 01:13.600 To their stern, the fireboat moves more slowly in the wake of the launch, 01:13.600 --> 01:17.840 ready to take up the task if the crew aboard the smaller boat should fail. 01:17.840 --> 01:21.760 All eyes are on the small cloud of smoke lifting from the barge, 01:21.760 --> 01:26.480 and they're worried eyes, for these firefighters know the cargo it contains. 01:26.480 --> 01:52.240 Now in just a minute, we'll move right up there to the scene of action. 01:52.240 --> 01:58.400 Let's go, firefighters! Let's get aboard that fast moving fire launch with Chief Cody and private Tim Collins 01:58.400 --> 02:02.720 as they speed toward the tugboat and the heavy laden barge which it is towing. 02:02.720 --> 02:08.160 You'll recall how a routine visit to the fireboat planned as a surprise for Tim's young brother Jimmy, 02:08.160 --> 02:11.920 had turned into an honest-a-gosh surprise for all concerned, 02:11.920 --> 02:14.960 when a sudden alarm sent all hands to the stations. 02:14.960 --> 02:19.760 The small fire on the barge might be merely routine except for one thing, 02:19.760 --> 02:23.440 it's carrying 35,000 gallons of oil. 02:23.440 --> 02:28.080 Now as Tim looks back, you can see his young brother standing beside Captain Jarvis 02:28.080 --> 02:30.240 on the bridge of the fireboat in the distance, 02:30.240 --> 02:33.600 and he's glad the boy is not with him and Chief Cody on the launch, 02:33.600 --> 02:37.040 and he suddenly hears the chief say, 02:37.040 --> 02:39.200 Did you see that, Tim? Aboard the barge? 02:39.200 --> 02:41.360 Looks pretty much the same to me, Chief Cody. 02:41.360 --> 02:45.040 The color of the smoke changed suddenly, getting heavier, blacker, I'd say. 02:45.040 --> 02:46.560 You're right, sir. 02:46.560 --> 02:50.160 Say, do you think the fire spread that maybe it's finally reaching the cargo of oil? 02:50.160 --> 02:52.560 I just hope we find out before it's too late, son. 02:52.560 --> 02:55.520 We've got to get there and get to work on that before it really catches on. 02:55.520 --> 02:57.680 Yeah, but that isn't exactly what bothers me, Tim. 02:57.680 --> 03:02.240 Oh, then you're worried about the possibility Captain Jarvis had in the back of his mind, 03:02.240 --> 03:05.680 that the whole barge might go up any minute, that we'll be too late. 03:05.680 --> 03:09.280 No, no. Did you ever see an oil tank go up in flames, son? 03:09.280 --> 03:13.120 Filling black clouds of smoke and underneath a solid mass of flame 03:13.120 --> 03:14.880 that gobbles up anything that touches. 03:14.880 --> 03:17.120 You mean that barge ahead of us will be like that? 03:17.120 --> 03:19.280 Well, of course. And that's what bothers me. 03:19.280 --> 03:21.280 Not that we'll be too early or too late, 03:21.280 --> 03:25.920 but that we'll climb on board that barge at the exact time it decides to shoot towards. 03:25.920 --> 03:28.320 Oh, good grief. I never thought of that. 03:28.320 --> 03:30.640 I suppose we should be thankful it isn't gasoline. 03:30.640 --> 03:36.400 I can't see much choice myself, sir, between terrific explosion and going up in a puff of smoke. 03:36.400 --> 03:37.680 Oh, me either, son. 03:38.400 --> 03:40.960 You know, this is one of these times I think we earn our pay. 03:40.960 --> 03:41.440 Yes, sir. 03:41.440 --> 03:44.480 Now, Captain Jarvis thought of every possibility, but... 03:44.480 --> 03:45.840 Well, he thought of this one, too. 03:45.840 --> 03:47.840 Only he couldn't bring himself to mention it. 03:47.840 --> 03:51.840 This launch only carries a small crew to do a specialized kind of job. 03:51.840 --> 03:54.720 But each life is a terrible responsibility for him. 03:56.480 --> 03:57.520 Chief. 03:57.520 --> 03:58.560 Chief, the barge. 03:58.560 --> 04:01.840 Turn around. Swing away from that barge. She's going up. 04:01.840 --> 04:05.680 Oh, we're too late, Chief, but it all seemed to go up at once. 04:05.680 --> 04:08.000 Yeah. See what I mean about being on it? 04:08.000 --> 04:10.880 Yes, sir. Just a mass of flames from one end to the other. 04:10.880 --> 04:12.480 Lucky we weren't any closer, Chief. 04:12.480 --> 04:14.640 Look at that burning oil spilling over the side. 04:14.640 --> 04:16.320 Looks like the harbor was on fire. 04:16.320 --> 04:17.760 Hey, you at the wheel. 04:17.760 --> 04:22.640 Whenever the lingo is for getting this seagoing hook and ladder over to the tugboat, consider it set. 04:22.640 --> 04:25.680 Yeah, I wonder what they're thinking on board the fireboat right now. 04:25.680 --> 04:29.520 They're thinking that all the water they can pour from those monitors isn't much help in this case. 04:29.520 --> 04:35.040 Yes, sir. It's up to us to continue the fight from the tugboat under that plan Captain Jarvis threw up just in case. 04:35.040 --> 04:38.800 Yeah. That blazing floating mass has got to be kept away from the waterfront now, Jim. 04:38.800 --> 04:43.600 And that means Mike Halloran has got to keep his tug on the job no matter what happens. 04:43.600 --> 04:45.120 You think we're in a spot, Chief? 04:45.120 --> 04:50.720 We will be. Once we get aboard that tug, she'd do dog on close to that inferno for comfort. 04:50.720 --> 04:53.920 We'll be in a spot all right, Jim. You might even say a hot spot. 04:55.760 --> 05:01.600 And Chief Cody is right. The slow speed of the tug is not even checked as he and Tim are put aboard. 05:01.600 --> 05:05.360 Quickly, they move to the stern where big Mike Halloran stands. 05:05.360 --> 05:12.960 The intense heat from the nearby barge causes sweat to pour from his face, but he brushes it out of his eyes, then they follow. 05:12.960 --> 05:18.640 If you've let out as much cable as you can, Jim, stand by and keep your eyes open. 05:18.640 --> 05:23.600 I don't care how hard it gets back here. You cut us loose and I'll have your height. 05:23.600 --> 05:26.320 Captain Jarvis was right, Jim. The skipper's a good man. 05:26.320 --> 05:31.760 Yes, sir. That's a fact, Chief. The temptation to cut loose and get away from here would be plenty understandable. 05:31.760 --> 05:34.320 Wait till it really begins to get hot. Now, here he comes. 05:34.320 --> 05:38.000 Okay, Jens. What's on your mind? Too bad that launch didn't reach us in time. 05:38.000 --> 05:40.960 Sorry about that, Captain Halloran, but it wasn't in the car. 05:40.960 --> 05:43.200 Oh, this is Private Collins. I'm Chief Cody. 05:43.200 --> 05:47.040 Well, when Captain Jarvis sends me help, he sure picks the high brass, eh? 05:47.040 --> 05:51.760 He needs every man of his own crew for the job ahead, Captain Halloran. The Chief just happened to be aboard. 05:51.760 --> 05:54.480 Don't get so arsed. I'm glad you're here. How's it look? 05:54.480 --> 05:59.600 That roaring sea of flames in the barge, you may have a fire breaking out here any minute. Got extinguishers? 05:59.600 --> 06:02.160 Sure an inspector would have my scalp if it didn't. 06:02.160 --> 06:05.680 You two men by the rails! Break out the extinguishers! 06:05.680 --> 06:08.720 Post yourselves so you can see if we're gonna need them! 06:08.720 --> 06:13.600 Next, Chief. Captain Jarvis anticipated what might happen, Mike. That's why we're here. 06:13.600 --> 06:16.400 Now, he's figured out a plan of action which he wants you to follow. 06:16.400 --> 06:19.760 Uh, he did say, Chief, that the Captain here might have the same thing in mind. 06:19.760 --> 06:23.600 We'll see. Let's go forward to my quarters. Get out of this heat a minute. Watch your step. 06:23.600 --> 06:29.280 All right. Good advice. It's beginning to look like the middle of the night with that thick black smoke pouring around us. 06:29.280 --> 06:34.880 Captain Jarvis tells me the tide is such that we're being pulled toward that waterfront property on our right. 06:34.880 --> 06:37.120 If you mean off to Savage, you're right, Chief. 06:37.120 --> 06:45.200 Well, if that barge is allowed to drift in there, ships, docks, warehouses, plants, a few million dollars worth of property will go up in smoke. 06:45.200 --> 06:47.920 As long as we can hang on to her, she won't drift, son. 06:47.920 --> 06:54.080 Of course, it's possible the heat may get more than is humanly possible to bear, but that the tug may burst into flames herself. 06:54.080 --> 06:56.640 We'll stick, Chief. Only one thing can stop us. 06:56.640 --> 07:00.480 Yes, I know. Uh, in here? 07:00.480 --> 07:01.040 Right. 07:01.040 --> 07:06.000 Good. I want you to take a look at the harbor chart Tom Jarvis had to bring. 07:06.000 --> 07:08.000 I know this harbor like the palm of my hand. 07:08.000 --> 07:12.080 Well, that's not the point, Captain Halloran. Uh, let me help you unroll that map, Chief. 07:12.080 --> 07:13.920 All right. Yeah, now. 07:13.920 --> 07:18.800 Yeah. Now, uh, you see this island at the mouth of the harbor, the one Captain Jarvis marked? 07:18.800 --> 07:23.840 Yeah. Open water all around. The perfect place to beach that compounded barge if we can make it. 07:23.840 --> 07:26.160 We'll be bucking both wind and tide, you know, Chief. 07:26.160 --> 07:31.040 Now, Jarvis and the fire boat will tag along, but the chances of cutting down that fire are pretty slim. 07:31.040 --> 07:34.560 Yeah. They can pump the harbor dry and water still won't mix with oil. 07:34.560 --> 07:36.400 Well, how about their formite equipment, Chief? 07:36.400 --> 07:40.480 Well, they'll do what they can, but smothering that entire barge is an impossible job. 07:40.480 --> 07:45.760 Well, this is one time when my battered old tug is a darn sight more important than your fire boat. 07:45.760 --> 07:49.760 I can't argue that. At the moment, it's up to you, Mike, and you alone. 07:49.760 --> 07:53.520 If you can beach that barge before we have a waterfront tragedy on our hands. 07:53.520 --> 07:56.720 Well, there's only one thing can prevent my trying, Chief. 07:56.720 --> 07:57.680 What's that, Captain? 07:57.680 --> 08:00.480 That blazing scow getting loose from us, Colin. 08:00.480 --> 08:05.760 Well, I'd better set our course with the man at the wheel. If you need me for anything else, just holler. 08:09.440 --> 08:14.080 A short time later, Chief Cody and Tim stand near the stern of the tug, 08:14.080 --> 08:18.320 the perspiration pouring from them. The Chief has an anxious eye on the cable 08:18.320 --> 08:21.760 stretched taut between the tug and the barge, but he merely says, 08:21.760 --> 08:24.240 I expect we're about the hottest thing on the seven seas. 08:24.240 --> 08:25.840 You could say that again, Chief. 08:25.840 --> 08:30.800 We were on dry land, Jim. If we could only turn a couple of companies to work on that barge. 08:30.800 --> 08:35.280 Yes, sir. Makes you feel kind of helpless just standing around, doesn't it, Chief? 08:35.280 --> 08:36.240 Here comes Mike Halloran. 08:36.880 --> 08:38.240 Everything under control, Captain? 08:38.240 --> 08:40.800 Not until we get that scow on the beach, it isn't, Chief. 08:40.800 --> 08:43.040 Shipping seems to be giving us a wide berth, huh? 08:43.040 --> 08:47.040 Hey, I can't blame them. Wish we'd worked our way farther away from those docks than we have. 08:47.040 --> 08:48.240 We're getting there, Mike. 08:48.240 --> 08:50.800 Wind tied everything against us. 08:50.800 --> 08:52.640 But what's the matter, Tim? Hurt your hand? 08:52.640 --> 08:55.680 No, sir. No, I... believe it or not, I just 08:55.680 --> 08:58.720 leaned my hand against this railing and darn near burned it. 08:58.720 --> 09:00.960 Say, V-Latchy. 09:00.960 --> 09:04.160 Hey, Jim! Can't you pay out any more of that cable? 09:04.160 --> 09:07.200 The more distance between us and the barge, the better. 09:07.200 --> 09:11.680 The safer, I'd say. Your tug won't be much help if it bursts into flame. 09:11.680 --> 09:14.960 How about that, Chief? Couldn't Captain Jarvis on the fire boat 09:14.960 --> 09:17.200 use those monitors to give us a curtain of water? 09:17.200 --> 09:19.600 They're sure enough wasting them on that barge. 09:19.600 --> 09:23.200 Uh-oh, forget it. Get away from that cable, Jim! 09:23.200 --> 09:25.440 Come on, boys. We'd better move out of the way, too. 09:25.440 --> 09:27.120 Are you afraid it's gonna snap? 09:27.120 --> 09:29.200 Mike and I have been afraid of that since we arrived, son. 09:29.200 --> 09:32.400 Look, did you forget the other end of that is attached to the barge? 09:32.400 --> 09:36.080 Oh, say, once that burning oil spreads enough to go to work on it. 09:36.080 --> 09:39.440 Right. If you can burn your hand on the railing this far away, 09:39.440 --> 09:41.440 imagine what that heat is doing to the cable. 09:42.720 --> 09:46.240 You mean what it did. Not as much snap as it did. 09:46.240 --> 09:48.880 I'm sorry, Chief. That puts us out of the race. 09:48.880 --> 09:53.120 It's, uh, humanly impossible to attach another cable in that inferno. 09:53.120 --> 09:55.280 Well, we'd better get back to the fire boat, Tim. 09:55.280 --> 09:56.640 That's where the action starts now. 09:56.640 --> 09:58.880 Yes, sir, but what on earth can they do, Chief? 09:58.880 --> 10:01.280 The barge is free to drift with the wind and the tide. 10:01.280 --> 10:03.760 Captain Jarvis knows his business, Tim. We'll help him. 10:03.760 --> 10:06.240 You're helpless, Chief. The only thing that counts now 10:06.240 --> 10:09.680 is keeping that barge away from the docks. How are you gonna do that? 10:09.680 --> 10:13.200 I don't know. But if she's allowed to drift another 10 minutes, 10:13.200 --> 10:16.320 we're going to have the biggest waterfront fire on record. 10:16.320 --> 10:19.360 She's got to be stopped. 10:19.360 --> 10:23.520 But already the flaming barge has swung around under the force of the wind and tide. 10:23.520 --> 10:27.760 Momentarily, it will be drifting slowly toward the shore to endanger life and property. 10:27.760 --> 10:33.200 A flaming mass on the loose. How can anyone or anything get close enough to check its progress? 10:33.200 --> 10:38.400 Well, to find out, don't miss the next exciting episode of The Firefighters. 10:38.400 --> 10:46.880 In a minute, Chief Bob Cody will be back to tell all of you boys and girls 10:46.880 --> 10:49.600 how you can help the firefighters in your own town. 10:49.600 --> 10:51.680 Right now, a message you'll want to hear. 10:59.360 --> 11:02.960 Now Chief Bob Cody with a message for the Firefighters Brigade. 11:02.960 --> 11:03.680 Chief Cody. 11:03.680 --> 11:06.480 Attention, firefighters. This is Chief Cody. 11:06.480 --> 11:10.480 You've just seen that water isn't always the answer to putting out a fire. 11:10.480 --> 11:16.080 So if you're ever faced with the danger of burning fat or oil, don't throw water on it. 11:16.080 --> 11:22.720 Now here's what you do. Use baking soda or salt or find a metal cover of some kind 11:22.720 --> 11:25.520 to smother the flame. Smother them. 11:25.520 --> 11:30.080 That's the same principle as our using foam to put out a fire of that type. 11:30.080 --> 11:34.080 Well, that's all. Until next time, this is Chief Cody saying, so long. 11:34.080 --> 11:38.720 Fire Chief Cody and the young rookie fireman Tim Collins will be back on the same station 11:38.720 --> 11:40.000 the next time you hear... 11:44.560 --> 11:46.400 That's it. Let's roll! 11:51.040 --> 11:53.840 Let's go! Fire! Fire! 11:53.840 --> 12:02.320 Fire! Firefighters is a copyrighted feature of William F. Holland Productions.