Told with great animation and modeling of the 1872 city, Damrell's Fire shows how Damrell, Boston's Fire chief, fought a firestorm of the kind that had destroyed Chicago just one year before. Telegraphing every fire department within 50 miles just 30 minutes after the fire began, he personally directed the fire fight to keep it from densely populated areas.
Damrell is on the ground of the fire making key decisions and allocating the resources men, machines and water. He himself goes into flaming buildings to rescue people who were trapped. He also tries to minimize the political interference from City Hall and the ill-fated attempts to control the fire using gunpowder.
After the fire, Damrell's political opponents demand an inquiry into the great fire. There is a commission set up to determine the cause of the fire and assess the management of the firefighting. The commission itself may be objective, but the self-interest of the witnesses may be damaging to Damrell's career.
Damrell is on the ground of the fire making key decisions and allocating the resources men, machines and water. He himself goes into flaming buildings to rescue people who were trapped. He also tries to minimize the political interference from City Hall and the ill-fated attempts to control the fire using gunpowder.
After the fire, Damrell's political opponents demand an inquiry into the great fire. There is a commission set up to determine the cause of the fire and assess the management of the firefighting. The commission itself may be objective, but the self-interest of the witnesses may be damaging to Damrell's career.
