Some Hollywood showmanship was applied to teaching firefighters from across California and points beyond how to keep movies and TV locations safe Thursday.
At the Burbank Fire Department’s helipads in the city’s northern hills, dozens of aspiring on-set fire safety officers completed an annual, three-day training program by watching industry experts shoot firearms, blow off pyrotechnics and set a stunt man ablaze – then safely put him out.
“The CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal offers a leadership role in training and educating the California Fire Service in motion picture and entertainment safety,” explained Filming Liaison and Deputy State Fire Marshal Ramiro Rodriguez, who oversees the only such program in the nation.