This silent film from 1948 shows the training of a group of volunteer firefighters, demonstrating the elimination of large fires on industrial sights. It opens and closes with the extinguishing of a fire at an oil well.

Title plate (:11-1:03). Sign for the Purisima Number 44 oil well (1:04-1:07) near Lompoc, California. Long shot of the oil well, completely ablaze. A man with a hard hat runs past camera. Pieces start to fall off the rig, at first small, then larger, more structurally integral pieces (1:18-2:11). A jet of water is being sprayed onto the fire (2:12-2:19). Several men in hard hats approach the well. The rig collapses on itself. Closer shots of the fire thrown from the well (2:30-3:15). Long shot of trainer wheeling out a fire house, surrounded by volunteers (3:31-3:48). Closer shot of instructor addressing volunteers. Shot of his hands twisting nozzle of firehouse (3:58-4:13). Mid shot of trainer twisting nozzle further then releasing a jet of water, continues to twists to produce ‘fog’ (4:21-4:41). Volunteers are gathered round a burning pit. Instructor releases a stream of fog, then different volunteers step forward to have a turn at tampering with the nozzle to produce different jets of water (4:45-5:10). Instructor approaches a burning motor pump, using fog to protect self from the heat. He closes the valve to extinguish fire. A volunteer imitates this procedure, touching valve then retreating (5:22-6:10). A fire department chief in formal uniform is seen turning the valve (6:16-6:21). A pipe trench is ablaze. Instructor begins to extinguish first section of trench with hose, flanked by volunteers. Then volunteers have a turn (6:28-7:13). The fire chief extinguishes remainder of trench (7:18-7:40). Instructor extinguishes a fire burning inside a shed, shielding self from flame with the doorframe (7:51-8:10). A student follows suit, with close supervision from instructor (8:13-8:43). The group walks across training ground. The nozzle men advance forward, stopped at various positions by instructor. Each line advances alternately. Men kneel, then begin to duck-walk forwards (8:47-10:36). Men are seen crouched and spraying fog, parallel with one another. They duck-walk backwards (10:44-10:55). Instructor lights ‘gaso-line’, swiftly producing a huge fire (11:03-11:19). Lines advance. Cut to nozzles open, using fog to shield selves from the flame and smoke (11:25-12:32). Instructor dives ahead of the lines, and shuts of valve. Students begin to slowly retreat from flame (12:40-13:05). Instructor steps out of training and substitutes a student instructor. Lines change positions frequently to preserve selves from heat of the flame. Student instructor dives in to turn valve (13:14-15:00). Return to the burning well. There is a pile of twisted tubing lying over the hole (15:15-15:24). Shot of a conference between the firefighting crew and officials on the site of fire (15:37-15:47). Hose is laid. Shot pans over to the pumper (15:56-16:05). First hose is seen in action. Crew members approach tubing under cover of fog, and begin to attach cables. A machine drags the tubing out of the way (16:14-16:56). Crew are seen in an adjusted formation, spraying water in a ‘V’. Two crew members form a cable tie under cover of fog (17:08-17:40). Lines are now in a new formation, preparing for the shut-off. Conversation seen between in distance shut-off man and crew leader. Shut-off man begins to enter the cellar, and begins to turn cock, with a crew member in tandem creating intense shield of fog as he does so. With no success, he leaves cellar (17:48-19:04). Close-up on a conversation between crew seniors. Shut-off man dives back into the cellar to attempt to bullplug the cock. He succeeds, exits cellar, then re-enters to shut the bailing gate, eventually extinguishing the fire (19:15-20:10). Crew member uses a portable fire extinguisher to eliminate a small fire remaining in the cellar. Final fog released from line to complete the procedure (20:20-20:36). Shot of the wreckage (20:36-20:40).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com