1972: The BRONX is Burning - NYC FIREFIGHTERS | Man Alive | Classic BBC Documentaries | BBC Archive

Jeremy James spends three weeks with the firefighters of Engine Company 82 and Ladder Company 31 - arguably the busiest firefighters in the world - as they struggle to control the staggering number of fires in New York's South Bronx district.

This clip is from Man Alive. Originally broadcast 27 September, 1972.

You have now entered the BBC Archive, a time machine that will transport you back to the golden age of TV to educate, entertain and enlighten you through our classic clips from the BBC vaults.

[Mllghguard]

The Deputy Chief talking with the Battalion Chief about the kids at 1:49 and safety at 2:56 was my father, Bernard Wynne. He joined the Department in 1938 and retired in 1973. One of my vivid memories as a kid was my father lying on his back asleep on the bed after a particularly rough night. Every time he exhaled, his breath expelled what looked like a dark cloud. An unbelievably challenging job which stays with you for all of your life!

[johnomahony]

Dennis Smith..FDNY LEGEND!!! ITS so crazy to watch those guys go into the fire and they don't even have tanks on.

[marcel]

no respirators? these archival clips are so thorough. really feels like a time machine with how much they show the (few)safety standards of the time

[StJohnsPl]

The War Years Veterans....I came OTJ in 1978 and these guys taught us the were cool, calm and had a lot of experience at fires. Good officers and good backbone of the job

[joed]

RIP Dennis Smith who passed away in January 2022. Seen in this video, he wrote the famous book "Report from Engine Company 82" which came out in January 1972 which is why I suspect the BBC decided to do this documentary.

[BodymechanicsUK]

I'm amazed at how the kids are just allowed to be on the fire engine and chilling along side working firemen.

[Alabama]

New York City ( 1972 ). I love the 1970’s era so much as much as I love the 1980’s and 1990’s era

[stevej]

1:35 there’s kids playing on the roof while they’re venting, wild.

[eldiablo]

Firefighters were awesome and hardcore back then. Literally, all they wore was a helmet, rain slicker coat, and hip high folded boots. An oldschool Chicago firefighter told me that he never had his ears covered with a protective hood like they wear today because that was his way of telling if it was too hot. If his ears started burning and he couldn't take it anymore, that's when he knew it was time to pull him and his men out of the building, lol.

[Cashcrop]

The book written by Dennis Smith "Report From Engine Company 82" is one of my favorite books. Dennis has a plain and simple style and I'm going to be getting the others he wrote.

[owensweetland]

Dennis Smith's famous book was the spark that flared into a fascination with fire photography. Plus Jill's book.

[tecnicodeprevencaoecombate]

I worked in the 80's until 2012 in São Paulo in Brazil. These scenes are very common in our daily lives. Only in 1994 did appropriate personal protective equipment and respiratory protection arrive for all firefighters. Our vehicles were very common without much technology. We faced these situations from the vide of 1972 in the 90's still. Difficult days for the Brazilian firefighters in the city of São Paulo, the fourth metropolis in the world with 15 million inhabitants today. We are much better today with more advanced technologies and techniques.
Lieutenant Castro 1984 to 2012 military firefighter

[luvluv]

The kids playing on the firetruck while they're fighting a fire was too funny 😊

[thunderbird]

This whole documentary is amazing as it is a time capsule of the state New York was in, in the mid 70's. Try to find the full documentary as it a very good watch

[Eric-snqz]

Love the clear
Picture. Hopefully
They’ll remaster the entire Doc.

[matthewnorman]

I was born in 72. It's a big difference from the fire scene then compared to now with all the regulations. It's crazy that there's kids on the roof right beside the firefighters and all over the apparatus. I heard the firefighters mention that and the NYPD said it was the firefighters problem. My uncle worked with the NYPD during that time. I'm sure today's fire scene would seem alien to him. That whole area would've been blocked off nowadays.

[scottprendergast]

When in London during Christmas years ago, I decided to make a surprise Christmas visit and spread yuletide cheer and brotherly love to the Fire Brigade boys

[elmcityslim]

It's pretty cool to see some of the men and the scenes from Dennis Smith's book.

[kenb.]

I lived up there during this time frame, I remember coming from Jersey over the GWB & remembering all the building boarded up, stolen cars on the CBX & Webster Ave, was like a war zone, felt really sorry for naive folks that broke down in that area, was a jungle baby.

[louisep]

Amazing accent I can really hear the English influences