About "Into the Fire" Academy Award®-winning documentary filmmaker Bill Couturié goes beyond the firefighter hero myth and into the hearts and minds of the self-proclaimed "ordinary" men and women who perform extraordinary acts to keep us safe. Through intimate interviews with firefighters from big-city engine companies and small-town volunteer fire departments, the film addresses why firefighters risk their lives to save others - in a time when budget cuts and greater demands are making their jobs more challenging than ever.

Continuing its efforts to support the fire service, Fireman’s Fund created the concept for the film and produced “Into the Fire” to raise the nation’s consciousness about the funding challenges firefighters face.

Funds generated through “Into the Fire” will be donated to fire departments and nonprofit fire service organizations for needed equipment such as thermal imaging cameras. The documentary features stories from real firefighters from different walks of life – career and volunteer firefighters from urban and rural communities across the country. The stories reveal what a firefighter endures on a daily basis, and why they do what they do despite diminishing financial resources for equipment and training. “Into the Fire” features firefighters from:

• California
• Colorado
• Illinois Massachusetts
• New York
• Virginia
• Washington, D.C.
• Wisconsin
• Musical artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Dire Straits and other leading musicians, have demonstrated support for this film by giving permission to use their music on the documentary soundtrack.

“Into the Fire” is an emotionally charged documentary presented by Fireman’s Fund and directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Bill Couturié.

Couturié interviews firefighters from big-city engine companies to small-town volunteer fire departments, asking them why firefighters risk their lives to save others.

The result is a collection of the firefighters’ stories – and a powerful and moving portrait of the modern fire service.

“Into the Fire” is part of Fireman’s Fund’s social mission to support firefighters for safer communities. In the spirit of the Fireman’s Fund Heritage SM program, the documentary is meant to raise our nation’s consciousness about the funding challenges facing the fire service. The goal is to inspire Americans to support their firefighters with more resources and understanding. The film embodies our values of being courageous, caring, inspired and dependable.

In addition, Fireman’s Fund will donate funds generated through “Into the Fire” activities to fire departments and nonprofit fire service organizations for needed equipment such as thermal imaging cameras.

“Into the Fire” airs nationally on The History Channel on October 13 at 8:00 p.m. and October 22 at 4:00 p.m.