The rookie seems a bit… inexperienced, clueless about the culture of the fire department but respectful, nervous every time an alarm goes off yet soaking up everything around him, excited to get to work every time a fire engine pulls out of the bay.
This is all a given – show your recruits how it works at your station. They’ll figure it out eventually, but it might speed up their absorption into the culture of the fire department, or at least give them a taste of what life is like at the station.
Firefighting-related TV shows will be featured.
There are certainly a lot of them out there, and they come in a variety of levels of quality and realism, but Firefighting TV shows are important.So, for some viewing fun, we asked FireRescue1 contributors what fire-related TV shows they would recommend for binge-watching a new firefighter.
Denis Leary plays New York City Firefighter Tommy Gavin.
“Rescue Me” (2004-2011)
“Rescue Me is a gritty yet entertaining portrayal of life in a fire station, showcasing how a diverse group of firefighters work together to get the job done under the most trying of circumstances.”
— Lt. Trevor Frostow, West Chester, Ohio Fire Department
“Rescue Me is a little more extreme than other firefighting shows and movies. While some may not agree with the jokes and drama that fill the screen, it captures the chaos that comes with continuing to do your job while dealing with tragedy. Firefighters face many challenges every day, not only on duty but also off duty. It can be difficult to juggle the two, but this show shows that no matter what, you’re never alone.”
— Jimmy Pribyl, Fire Chief, Turkey Creek, North Carolina
“Live Rescue” brings you live coverage with camera crews riding along with fire departments and rescue teams in cities and towns across the country.
“Live Rescue” (as of 2019)
“Live Rescue showcases rescuers from different regions and the similarities and differences they bring to the rescue workforce. It’s always helpful for a rookie to step back a little and see a different way of approaching a problem than how their agency has done it before. Seeing different tactics and approaches can spark conversations and sometimes allow you to evaluate how you respond. This leads to a culture of continuous improvement and strives to adopt new and innovative tactics and strategies. On a more light-hearted note, an agency in our area finally got uniform shorts with a polo shirt because the commander saw an episode of Live PD and realized they looked good on some of the rescuers in the southeastern US. It also allows you to see the rescuers’ responses and discuss with a new firefighter how they handled the situation.”
— Andrew Beck, training officer, Mandan City, North Dakota Fire Department
Protagonists of Emergency!: Roy DeSoto and Johnny Gage.
“Emergency!” (1972-1977)
“Emergency! was definitely an inspiration (no pun intended) to fire and paramedics in the 1970s. Personally, I credit Emergency! with getting me into the fire/EMS industry. I quickly learned that firefighting life on TV and real firefighting life are very different. While there is always room for improvement in IDLH’s realism, its awareness of the dangers firefighters and communities face is alive and well in today’s TV series such as Chicago Fire and 9-1-1. Whereas Emergency! was business-focused, today’s shows delve into personal relationships and soap opera-style drama, which I think makes the shows more accessible to a wider audience.”
— Mark Basheer, Fire Chief (retired)
“Chicago Fire” premiered on NBC in 2012.
“Chicago Fire” (2012-present)
“I admit I’m falling behind every season, but if you’re looking for a firefighting show, Chicago Fire is my recommendation. I love the colorful characters of Chicago’s big fire department. Chief Boden is an intimidating chief, and the rest of the cast has a great mix of personalities to make it dynamic. I love how NBC has combined Chicago PD and Chicago Med to portray the relationship between the fire, police and hospital forces. My wife watches the show just for Kelly Severide, though.”
— Vince Bettinazzi, Battalion Chief, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Fire Department
“Night Watch” follows emergency service workers on the night shift.
“Night Watch” (2015-present)
“By following real emergency medical personnel on call, Night Watch truly sheds light on the day-to-day work of paramedics and emergency medical technicians within a busy emergency care system.”
— Lt. Trevor Frostow, West Chester, Ohio Fire Department
The show focused on the lives of New York City police, fire and emergency responders.
“Help me” (2004-2011) “Third Watch” (1999-2005)
“Of all the shows I’ve watched, these two really bring a sense of reality to not only the crazy, wacky call-outs we actually have, but also the experiences we have at home. Depending on what’s going on with your family, you might be better off going to the fire department to escape the stress of things you can’t control or aren’t ready to face yet. Working gives you time to clarify things and make a plan to make things right in your personal life. Rely on members of the fire department to help you. You’d be surprised how many people out there have been through similar experiences to help you get through life’s challenges.”
—Andrew Klein, Southern California business executive
The series followed Boston Fire Department’s Fire Company 37 and Ladder Company 26.
“Firehouse USA: Boston” (2005)
“This was a special weekly series on the Discovery Channel showcasing Ladder Truck #26 and Fire Engine #37 in Boston. The series is a little dated and some of the tactics in the field have evolved a lot over the last 17 years, but it’s still a great glimpse into the lives of firefighters without the crazy drama that newer shows need to survive.”
— John Dorman, Chief, Fire Content Director, Lexipol
Beyond Fire Services
Of course, there are other non-fire department TV shows available to inspire any new recruit or firefighter.
The series follows an American college football coach who is hired to coach a British soccer team.
“Ted Lasso” (as of 2020)
“For a rookie firefighter to watch a firefighting movie or series to get a feel for what it’s like to be a firefighter is like watching ‘Top Gun’ and believing in what it’s like to be a fighter pilot. But it’s a rite of passage. In most cases, these shows are an exaggeration of reality. So, here’s my suggestion: If there’s one TV series I would wholeheartedly recommend to a rookie, it’s simple: ‘Ted Lasso.’ This series has very little to do with soccer (no, football) and everything to do with leadership. Demonstrating leadership from your position is clearly communicated throughout this series. The lessons of leadership will stay with you throughout your career, beyond your rookie’s tenure. I tell this to anyone who has seen this series: trust me.”
— Meridian, Idaho Fire Chief Chris Bloom
Readers’ comments
Here’s what the FireRescue1 community has to offer about Fire Services TV Shows:
- “‘Emergency!’ Thanks to Chief James O. Page and the Los Angeles County Fire Department for their guidance!”
- “Rescue 8”: A rescue mission for the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
What shows would you recommend for beginners?
