Reconnecting Roots

Announcer> Support for "Reconnecting Roots" is provided by the following.

Muletown Coffee Roasters is all about slowing things down, digging into community, and encouraging good for goodness' sake.

Taylor Stitch is responsibly built for the long haul and is proud to partner with brands that inspire hope for a more sustainable future.

Lems Shoes, everything we do is done with intention, and we will never stop our endless exploration to keep your feet happy and healthy every step of the way.

Discover more with less.

The ETV Endowment of South Carolina.

Through the generosity of our members and donors, the ETV Endowment has made it possible for programs like "Reconnecting Roots" to be shared around our state and the nation for more than 45 years.

Sharing a common passion for music and community in beautiful Paradise Valley, Music Ranch Montana's mission to support musicians and provide a place to enjoy it together is reflected in "Reconnecting Roots".

("Fire" by The Ohio Players) Fire Gabe> From brave volunteers to brutal extortionists, how a class of real American heroes was born out of ashes of disaster.

Paul Hashagen> We're the only profession that fights elemental nature.

We're all just links in a chain, but the strength in that chain is the people that care and pay attention to the past to help them figure out what to do in the future.

(upbeat music) Baby, baby, baby Whoo, ooh, ooh (gentle music) Gabe> I'm Gabe McCauley.

Join me as we explore the greatness of America.

Beautiful for spacious skies Amber waves of grain Purple mountain majesties On the fruited plains we're home There's no place like home Home Home Gabe> Tracing the routes of progress from then to now and how, this is "Reconnecting Roots."

We're Home Long before "The Greatest Show on Earth," legendary showman P.T.

Barnum accidentally created one of the greatest spectacles imaginable when a fire destroyed his five-story museum.

The popular attraction became a scene of horror.

Frightened animals desperate to escape the blaze were released from their pens, exotic birds flew out the window and away, the blue whales weren't so lucky being roasted alive in their tanks.

But the most terrifying moment was when a Bengal tiger sprang from the second story into the open crowd gathered below.

And it was at that moment a fireman lept forward with his ax, taking the beast out of commission and entering the inferno to carry the 400-pound woman to safety, along with the other sideshow stars like the Giantess Anna Swan, the Circassian Beauty and the Pinheaded-Man.

But civilian evacuation, animal control, fire suppression and courage made the firemen the main attraction.

Today there are over 50,000 fire departments in the United States, with over 1.2 million people staffing them, and over half of them acting as volunteers.

(gentle music) Firemen often log hundreds of hours of training before being allowed in the field, but that does little to deter the brave men and women who enlist.

They have the hardware and know-how required for the job.

More than that, they have the heart.

(door slams) ("In The City" by the Eagles) New York Up in the city Up in the city tonight Gabe> FDNY is the biggest fire department in the nation and recognized as one of the best in the world with over 11,000 firefighters serving in over 250 stations across the city's five boroughs, and it's a rite of passage for many FDNY vets who go on to serve other towns around New York, such as Long Island's Freeport whose fire service actually predates The Village.

But what's truly remarkable is how this station, like most on Long Island, is operated by volunteers who wake up each day willing to put their lives on the line to save others.

Paul Hashagen> This is the original chief's helmet of this department, 1874.

See how lightweight that is now.

Gabe> Oh yeah.

Paul> Yeah, they call them high eagle helmets because of this eagle here.

Gabe> Paul Hashagen served in several FDNY stations, most notably, Rescue 1 where he specialized in water rescue.

Just before 9/11, he served as fire chief here at Freeport.

Now retired, "Hash" has published several books about fire history in New York.

It's a legacy he shares with his grandfather, whose badge number he inherited when his career began.

(song ends) FDNY is known as the best of the best.

What makes them the best?

Paul> New York City always has had heavy fire duty.

I've seen things happen in New York City where if it happened in another city, you know, everybody would be running around screaming and yelling, but in New York, oh a manhole blew up, you know?

People just get used to it.

Gabe> What are some of the most impressive technological advancements?

Paul> The reliance on self- contained breathing equipment.

It was around when I first started and you were encouraged to wear it but you weren't mandated to wear it, so we were breathing a little more smoke.

than we should have, probably.

Portable radios started becoming more and more popular and that changes everything, when you can call for help, or to see something and tell everybody else what you saw so it makes them safer.

Nowadays, they have thermal imaging devices which is another new thing that really helps.

You can see through the smoke and you can tell temperatures and things like that.

That's a major difference.

We also do scuba diving.

We were in the firehouse when we get the alarm that there's a helicopter down in the river, and I went down and I found the body of the helicopter.

Was able to open the door and take the pilot out.

And all of a sudden the lieutenant yells, "He's breathing."

I think one of the most cherished pieces of memorabilia I have is little Christmas cards from his children thanking me for saving their dad.

Gabe> You've worked as a volunteer and as a paid firefighter.

Paul> I did it simultaneously.

Gabe> Oh really?

Paul> On my days off I was still going to fires.

Gabe> Is that common?

Paul> It is around here.

Gabe> Yeah.

Paul> And that's the rescue truck that's downstairs.

That's purely rescue equipment for building collapses, water emergencies, high angle rope rescues.

When I worked in Rescue 1... people stuck on machines.

You know, you look around Manhattan and you don't realize that there's manufacturing going on all over the place.

See, one of the things I say about the professional fire department is they pay me to take care of the truck and to clean the building, because you can't pay me enough to risk my life.

I was grossly underpaid.

To risk your life, that part I did for free.

If it's something that you know how to do, how can you not do it?

Gabe> What would you say the biggest difference between volunteer firefighting and being a full-time firefighter?

Paul> The most important thing that they both have in common is the danger of what goes on.

But the public service feeling that you get.

We're the only profession that fights elemental nature.

We have the audacity to think that we can pull up and put out a fire.

That's an amazing feeling all by itself.

(bright music) Mr. McColley> Thank you, Miss Smithson, for that presentation on floral arrangement.

I can now see why your daughter Hadley always needs Benadryl.

Let's see what Billy's dad, Mr. Michael, has to tell us about his job.

See if you can guess what he does.

(chuckles) Just kidding.

Take it away, Billy's dad.

Mr. Michael> Hey everybody, I'm Billy's dad, and when I'm not spending time with Billy and the rest of our family I'm down at the fire station, where I... Got a question up here?

Student #1> How many fires do you put out?

Mr. Michael> Oh, it's interesting that you'd ask that.

Um...

The answer is... not very many.

Thankfully, there's not a lot of fires for me to put out these days.

Go ahead, another question?

>> If you don't put out fires, what do you actually do?

Mr. Michael> Oh, you're Officer Chad's daughter, aren't you?

I should've known.

The answer is, you know, firefighting is more about prevention these days, so making spaces safer.

at your home, your work, and at your school.

It cuts down the amount of fires we have to put out.

A big part of that is education.

Another question up front here.

Student #1> My dad says firemen just sit around in their fancy little clubhouse playing pool, watching big screen TVs, and eating gourmet food.

Meanwhile, my dad is out on the streets every single day chasing Crips and dodging bullets.

How many bullets can you dodge at the fire station?

Mr. Michael> Well, you know, let me ask you something- Mr. McColley> Thank you, thank you very much for telling us all about your very, very heroic career.

(class applauds) Alright, who's next?

Any volunteers?

(bright music) Gabe> Long before fire engines and high-pressure fire hoses, American colonists banded together to fight fires with buckets of water.

The amount of buckets required depended upon the fire risk each home or business posed.

A baker required three buckets on hand in case of fire, a brewer needed six buckets, and I just need one bucket for potty break.

The first fire regulations were enacted against homes using flammable thatch roofs and wooden chimneys.

Over time, planning city layouts as a grid with open spaces between structures was implemented to prevent fires from spreading.

Enter Ben Franklin, "Ben Franklin"> Hooya!

Gabe> who organized the first volunteer fire brigade and later the first successful fire insurance company, offering rewards for saving property.

Many fire companies would ignore structures that didn't have a fire insurance mark, causing uninsured homes to burn to the ground as crews stood by.

Civic duty took a backseat to profitability as fire companies would race to the scene to start fighting each other for the job.

And in the largest cities, companies devolved into bona fide street gangs who would sometimes set fire to a building to claim the insurance and use the distraction to loot the building.

For some time, urban fires were so common they were practically considered entertainment thanks to the massive scale of distraction, the drama playing out between the firefighting companies, and, oddly enough, because they happened quite frequently in theaters!

(coughs) Cincinnati put the first civic fire department into service, eliminating the fisticuffs and chaos of private companies, and invested in a steam-powered fire engine.

The image of the firefighter began to change and so did response times, thanks to a system of alarm boxes working as a telegraph network that would immediately transmit their location to a central office.

Not all advancements sprung from ingenuity.

Most resulted from tragedy, such as the Iroquois Theater fire in Chicago that claimed 600 people.

Building codes were soon updated to include panic bars on all doors that opened outward.

(record reversing) ("Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads) (upbeat music) Ah, watch out You might get what you're after Cool babies Strange but not a stranger I'm an ordinary guy Burning down the house Hold tight Wait 'til the party's over Hold tight We're in for nasty weather There has got to be a way Burning down the house Here's your ticket, pack your bags Time for jumping overboard Transportation is here Close enough but not too far Maybe you know where you are Fighting fire with fire Ah, all wet Hey, you might need a raincoat Shakedown Dreams walking in broad daylight 365 degrees Burning down the house Ah, it was once upon a place Sometimes I listen to myself Gonna come in first place People on their way to work And baby what do you expect Gonna burst into flames ah (music fades with chime) (mellow music) Gabe> Sometimes... fire prevention might seem a bit irritating to cope with, but the minor... (alarm beeps) annoyance is much easier to bear than the alternative.

It's good to have the occasional reminder to check up on fire prevention and safety measures.

Something we haven't always had in place in public spaces.

As the industrial age created a lot of terrible working conditions for factory workers, that all began to change as a result of several major fires, especially the tragic blaze that claimed the lives of 123 women working in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York.

The public outrage led to 36 new state safety laws mandating multiple building exits, fire escapes, sprinklers, extinguishers, and gave considerable power to fire commissioners.

The comprehensive reforms set a new standard that other states soon adopted into law.

("Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer) Looking for some hot stuff, baby, this evening Gabe> Do you want to know what's sexy?

(camera clicks) Fire supression.

Thanks to the Weeks Acts in 1911, the federal government was able to purchase private land to protect rivers and watersheds.

It also called for collaboration and protection on federal, state and private land, and now we can worry a little less about forest fires making us hot.

Early fire engines were hand pumps that were horse-drawn.

Not like the fire engines of today that come equipped with hoses and water.

Meanwhile, fire trucks have ladders that can handle ventilation, rescue, and forceful entry.

Looking for a lover who needs another Gabe> As fire equipment advanced, the job of a firefighter expanded.

In the 1960s, a number of new roles were expected in response to many different types of catastrophes.

(cat meows) Officer Chad> You see, kids, I don't wear this badge and go out and put my life on the line every single day because I have to.

I get to serve and protect.

It's a privilege to be a public servant to this fine city.

I guess not all heroes wear capes, some wear hats.

(whimsical music) (class applauds) (hands clap) Mr. Michael> That was really rich about the whole privilege thing.

Officer Chad> Meant every word, fire boy.

Mr. Michael> You know who put serve in public servant?

This guy.

How many jobs do you have to learn?

EMT?

Check!

Electrician?

Check!

Chemical spill cleanup guy?

Double check!

Officer Chad> Good to have career fallback options for when you can't take the heat.

Mr. Michael> Oh, you want to talk about being put in harm's way?

I've never seen a cop in a hazmat suit.

Have you, Billy?

Mr. McColley> Alright!

Alright, let's bring up Clara's mom.

She's a video game tester.

(children cheer) Children> Clara's mom!

Clara's mom!

Clara's mom!

Stogie Bear> And that's why matches aren't a toy.

(children cheer) Stogie Bear, he's our ranger He warns us of fire danger Stogie Bear> And remember, only you can prevent arson.

(electricity buzzes) (knocking at door) Stogie Bear> Hold your horses.

Ah.

(bear farts) (door creeks open) Boy> Good afternoon, mister.

Watch out with that cigar, especially in a modern home like yours that's full of flammable materials like plastics and laminate.

They can burn hotter and faster than homes built with natural materials like we used to do.

Stogie Bear> Let me guess, you want to grow up to be a fireman?

Boy> I'm actually raising funds for our local firehouse.

More departments are understaffed and underfunded and the target of budget cuts.

Our heroes deserve more support.

Stogie Bear> Oh, you mean mental health support?

No one helped me cope with the long-term mental health risks of this line of work.

Boy> The risks and dangers are changing.

Electrical fires increase with our reliance on more devices.

And electrochemical fires will be more frequent with EVs.

Stogie Bear> So who's going to warn the people about these new hazards?

Not that smiley dog.

Smokey still has the forest covered for life.

Maybe there's a place for me.

Say goodbye to Stogie Bear and hello to Sparky Bear.

Boy> We would still really appreciate a donation, Mr. Bear.

(door creaks) (door thuds) Sparky Bear, he's our ranger He warns us of electrical fire danger (gentle music) (alarm beeping) Gabe> Cooking is the leading cause of fires today.

But thanks to the safeguards and awareness efforts put in place, the overall amount of fires has actually gone down.

Since the 1970s, the number of fire incidents has decreased even as our population increased.

Medical emergencies and rescues are the most common incidents firefighters respond to by a wide margin.

(cat purring) Despite the reduced number of civilian blazes, wildfires have intensified in the same timeframe.

Private fire companies are again rising to the occasion, taming the wild flames in a return to the days of fighting fires on the frontiers of early America.

(chime) (class applauds) Mr. McColley> Alright, kids.

Next we have Stacy's mom, she's got... What's that smell?

(alarm beeps) (kid gasps) (dramatic music) Okay, alright, stay calm, everybody, we've rehearsed.

Officer Chad> Alright, everyone, let's remain calm.

Let's form a single file.

Mr. McColley> Just like we practiced.

(dramatic music continues) Okay, I think we've got everybody.

Student #1> Mr. McColley, where's Baxter?

He's not here.

(dramatic music) (class gasps) Student #2> Look!

(epic music) (class cheers) Mr. McColley> He got him.

Class> Billy's dad!

Billy's dad!

Billy's dad!

Billy's dad!

(class cheers) Officer Chad> Good work, maverick.

Er, I mean, Michael.

Mr. Michael> You too...partner.

(hands smack) (epic music continues) (eagle caws) (Mr. McColley chuckles) Mr. McColley> We did it, guys.

Announcer> Attention, faculty and staff.

It is now safe to return to your classrooms.

And Mr. McColley, please turn off the coffee pot from now on, thank you.

Mr. McColley> Okay kids, you heard the lady.

Let's get back to class.

(gentle music) Gabe> In a city that loves to honor its firemen, there's nothing as powerful as the Memorial Plaza at World Trade Center.

Empty spaces where the towers once stood symbolize the sense of loss brought on by the tragic events of 9/11.

Paul Hashagen witnessed the destruction.

Then, after sorting through rubble, helped rebuild the fire service.

You were involved in a disaster event that happened at the World Trace Center, but prior to 9/11.

Paul> 93, yeah.

Gabe> Tell me about that.

Paul> Well, I was off duty when the initial explosion happened.

Kevin Shay, who had made this fantastic rope rescue, falls, plummets into the burning basement, and now everybody in my company and Squad 1 came and they worked to try to rescue Kevin.

Well, my guys were shot just from that rescue effort alone.

Soaking wet from hoses and everything else, it's freezing cold, it's snowing lightly outside.

You know, a fun day.

I went back later and took a good look at it and it was eerie because I had never been to something like that before where once we found out that it was terrorists, like, wow, that's bad.

Those years later, the same bad guys come back and they put the planes into the buildings.

And I was all for that, but just like the other one, as soon as I saw what was happening we went back in again, because that's what you do.

That changed the world.

That changed the world for everybody right there.

Gabe> How did that event change the way we fight fires?

Paul> We lost 343 firefighters that day.

But they saved 20,000 people, that's amazing.

And they were still fighting the fire and still trying to save even more people when it happened.

It's horrible, but it's amazing at the same time that they were able to do that.

I know there were people that joined the military, because of that.

There were people that were drawn to the fire service, because of that.

So the overall effect was not what the bad guys had intended.

Sadly, over the years in New York City we've lost so many firefighters.

We've always had a level of funeral for our guys, but there were so many funerals and so much to do that we couldn't put a lot of blue uniforms in the street for those families.

So firefighters came from across the country to stand for us.

Gabe> Wow.

Paul> Yeah.

Gabe> How long did it take to recover?

Paul> The New York City Fire Department took a major hit.

We lost the Chief of Department, the Chief of Rescue Operations, all these guys with all this experience, you can never recover from it, but you have to go on.

Gabe> Remembrance is a valuable tool for firefighters who have to face traumatic events on a daily basis.

Though traditions vary by firehouse, they can help firemen cope and prepare them for the next emergency.

Paul> If it's a kitchen table, or a workroom, or a TV room, wherever the gathering point is, when there's downtime, when you're done checking the rig, when you're done cleaning up after the fire, when you're done maintaining the building, that's when you start talking and that's when you really learn.

You start hearing stories about this guy did this and that guy did that at a fire.

And you might never be in that circumstance, but the actions that person took might work in your circumstance.

We're all just links in a chain, and that chain goes all the way back.

But the strength of that chain is the people that care and pay attention to the past to help them figure out what to do in the future.

Gabe> The work of our fire safety professionals has helped us to enjoy peace and rest.

Through prevention and planning, they've allowed ensuing generations to experience more of the history that holds us together as Americans.

Their examples of self-sacrifice should inspire us all to help those in danger.

Stay safe and be courageous.

(bright music) (bright music continues) Smoke on the horizon I can see it in the clouds Fire on the mountain Don't let 'em burn it down River through the dead woods We can make it out alive Someone get the water Draw it til the well runs dry Flame under smoke Jump around, brothers, run Daylight and midnight Hotter than the sun Deliver us from evil Purify it with the flood Fire on the mountain Needing more than flesh and blood Hear the wind a-howling You can find us on the trail Fighting with the devil Gonna send him back to hell Flame under smoke Jump around, brothers, run Daylight and midnight Hotter than the sun (bright music continues) (music ends) (gentle music) (gentle music continues) Gabe> Connect with me, Gabe McCauley, and "Reconnecting Roots" by visiting reconnectingroots.com where you'll find music, vlogs, behind the scenes and more.

Join our email list to stay reconnected.

(gentle music ends) Announcer> Support for "Reconnecting Roots" is provided by the following.

Muletown Coffee Roasters is all about slowing things down, digging into community, and encouraging good for goodness' sake.

Taylor Stitch is responsibly built for the long haul and is proud to partner with brands that inspire hope for a more sustainable future.

Lems Shoes, everything we do is done with intention and we will never stop our endless exploration to keep your feet happy and healthy every step of the way.

Discover more with less.

The ETV Endowment of South Carolina.

Through the generosity of our members and donors, the ETV Endowment has made it possible for programs like "Reconnecting Roots" to be shared around our state and the nation for more than 45 years.

Sharing a common passion for music and community in beautiful Paradise Valley, Music Ranch Montana's mission to support musicians and provide a place to enjoy it together is reflected in "Reconnecting Roots."

(bright music) (APT chime)