“Into the Fire,” a special documentary produced by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company and directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Bill Couturié, will be shown on The History Channel on February 11 at 1pm/12CT.
This emotionally charged film focuses on intimate interviews with career and volunteer firefighters from throughout the U.S., drawing attention to everyday challenges the fire service faces in an environment of shrinking resources and increasing demands. Featuring music by Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Dire Straits, the documentary is meant to inspire Americans to support firefighters in their own community.
“Despite their insistence that they are simply ‘ordinary folks,’ today’s firefighters are doing an increasingly difficult job with fewer and fewer resources,” said Darryl Siry, chief marketing officer for Fireman’s Fund.
“We produced this film as a way to give these brave men and women an opportunity to tell us in their own words what they do and why they do it. Bill Couturié’s film is emotionally powerful and revealing. We hope it will inspire Americans to more enthusiastically support their local fire department.”
“Into the Fire” is an extension of Fireman’s Fund’s social mission to support firefighters for safer communities.
Fireman’s Fund is committed to raising the nation’s consciousness about the funding challenges facing the fire service through the film and its corporate giving program, Fireman’s Fund Heritage.
Through this program, Fireman’s Fund and its network of independent agents award millions of dollars each year to fire departments and nonprofit fire and burn prevention organizations across the country for needed equipment, training and community education programs. Additionally, Fireman’s Fund employees have logged thousands of hours of volunteer support to local fire departments and nonprofit fire and burn prevention organizations nationwide.
Fireman’s Fund is expanding the reach of its grant-giving initiative through fundraising activities to promote “Into the Fire.” The company will contribute its profits from the film and subsequent DVD sales to fund the purchase of firefighting safety equipment and fire safety programs.
The broadcast of the documentary will be accompanied by fundraising messages on the History Channel and its Web site. Fireman’s Fund also expects to sponsor fundraising events associated with screenings of the film.
One example of an unmet equipment need for many fire departments is thermal imaging cameras, which allow firefighters to find victims or identify hot spots inside a burning structure. Most fire departments cannot afford to purchase an adequate number of these essential, life-saving tools.
Bill Couturié is an award-winning writer, director and producer whose past projects include everything from television advertisements to a mini-series. However, he is best known for his documentary films that have earned an Academy Award, numerous Emmy Awards and many other honors. Among his recognized projects are “Last Letters Home: Voices of American Troops from the Battlefields of Iraq,” “Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks,” “Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam” and “Common Threads: Stories From the Quilt.” Most recently, Couturié produced and directed HBO’s “Boffo! Tinseltown’s Bombs and Blockbusters,” which was an official selection of the Cannes Film Festival.
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company is a leading property and casualty insurance company providing personal, commercial and specialty insurance products nationwide. Founded in 1863 with a mission to support firefighters, Fireman’s Fund continues this mission today through the Fireman’s Fund Heritage program. Fireman’s Fund employees and network of independent agents award grants and provide volunteer support to local and national fire service and burn prevention organizations.
DVD Release
Starting February 1, the “Into the Fire” DVD will be available for purchase at www.firemansfund.com/heritage for $14.99.
