Civil Defense How to Fight Fires After the Atomic Bomb Hits 52934 (1951)

Synopsis

This 1951 black and white film is part of an information campaign by the Federal Civil Defense Administration and produced by TeleTran. It focuses on how individuals can extinguish home fires in the event of a nuclear attack. The underlying theme is to always be prepared. The film opens with the ring of a fire bell at a fire station. A 1940s American LaFrance firetruck pulls out and water is sprayed at a multi-story building. This is followed by an entire city on fire (:26-:54). An atomic blast is shown (:55). Initial flames begin on the roof and ground of a house. A curtain explodes in flames ( 1:09 - 1:15 ). The blast wave is shown by causing an electric lamp to burst into flames as it falls into a wastebasket due to an electrical circuit fire ( 1:16 - 1:21 ). The damage to heaters and gas lines also cause fires ( 1:22 - 1:35 ). The fire spreads and flames shoot out the windows, followed by video of a neighborhood on fire ( 1:36 - 1:50 ). A housewife wearing a skirt, half apron, and high heels enters the room and sees the initial wastebasket fire. She immediately pulls down the drapes and moves furniture away from the fire ( 1:51 - 2:04 ). Her husband enters the room and uses the couch cushions to smother the fire and the wife pours water on what remains ( 2:05 - 2:23 ). In an apartment building, a man removes a large chemical fire extinguisher canister from the wall and uses it to put out the furniture on fire. The extinguisher runs out. A woman dressed in a large check…

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Details

Running time

8 minutes

Language

English

Collection

Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

• Stock Footage