BURN: One Year on the Frontlines of the Battle to Save Detroit

[ComputerGuy 3]

http://detroitfirefilm.org/

If the film is even half as good as the trailer, I can't wait to see it. I knew Detroit was not in good shape, but I had no idea of how bad.

[efdcapt115 1,511]

Detroit - Detroit has long been known for its Devil's Night fires, the worst one being 800 blazes set in 1984. Since the mid-90's the city has tried to change its image by creating "Angel's Night."

Detroit mayor at the time Dennis Archer created Angel's Night in 1995 to replace the stigma of "Devil's Night" that had news media from around the world reporting on the devastation Detroiters did to their own city on the nights leading up to Halloween.

Tens of thousands of volunteers patrol the neighborhoods to try to keep the arsonists from burning up the homes and buildings. Children under the age of 18 are held under a curfew, not allowing them out to roam the streets after 6 p.m. between October 29 and 31, without a parent or guardian.

According to Freep.com, in 2008 there were 136 fires, while last year, in 2009 it went down to 119 fires. Unfortunately, the fires escalated this past Halloween weekend, turning Angel's Night back towards old Devil's Night with 169 fires set around the city. That is a 42 percent increase from last year.

Detroit Fire Commissioner James Mack said one reason for the increase of fires was due to so many vacant structures in the city.

"Fire officials told the Free Press over the weekend that things got so busy early Sunday, firefighters were told they couldn’t take their breaks because of the volume of calls."

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said a typical night in Detroit has firefighters putting out 40 fires around the city.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/299676#ixzz1cATv4JUL

Detroit Wants to Save Itself By Shrinking (article is from 2010)

DETROIT -- Detroit, the very symbol of American industrial might for most of the 20th century, is drawing up a radical renewal plan that calls for turning large swaths of this now-blighted, rusted-out city back into the fields and farmland that existed before the automobile.

Operating on a scale never before attempted in this country, the city would demolish houses in some of the most desolate sections of Detroit and move residents into stronger neighborhoods. Roughly a quarter of the 139-square-mile city could go from urban to semi-rural.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/08/detroit-wants-to-save-its_n_490680.html

[ComputerGuy 3]

http://detroitfirefilm.org/category/videos/

Be sure to check out the "Helmet Cam Teaser". Some of the best raw footage of a working fire that I have ever seen.

[sfrd18 360]

The War Years in New York is what Detroit goes through everyday. I hope, for their sake, they win the battle.

[dfdallen 13]

Here is a site that was put together to kind of highlight the stuff that detriot fire deals with on a day to day basis. Thederoitbundle.com

[x129K 1,393]

ALOT of the photogs on firepics.net go to Detriot to buff...the sheer amount of fires in vacants alone is astounding..

[efdcapt115 1,511]

Tonight is Angels/Devils Night, depending on one's perspective. Should be interesting considering that arson had been declining on this night due to the efforts of the good people, but has risen in recent years, probably due to the continuing decline in the city's economic situation.

~Prayers for a safe night for all the Brothers of the Detroit Fire Department.

[PFDRes47cue 653]

Very good footage. I hope the documentary works out.

[miltonfire39 8]

I heard the film has reached it's fund raising goals and can now move forward in production. Can't wait to see it.