Eureka! Inferno 999

Founder of V Good Films Victoria Powell explains how obs-doc Inferno 999 broke new ground.

Broadcast
Kate Govier 16 August 2007

What made this idea so special?
Television has been drowning in observational documentaries on emergency services but few, if any, focused on the most-loved but least known of the three - the fire and rescue service.

What do you think made it stand out?
Groundbreaking camera technology. We developed special heat-resistant camera casings that allowed us to film at phenomenal temperatures. The cameras were ergonomically designed to fit to firefighters' protective clothing or breathing apparatus without impeding their movements. We got some incredible footage that makes viewers feel they're running into the burning buildings right with the fire crews.

How did you pitch it?
Non-stop action. We shot a teaser tape with Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, then took it to Ben Frow at Five. He loved it.
How did the idea evolve?
We knew we wanted a high-impact series - lots of genuine tension and drama, almost a cinematic quality, with Manchester as the backdrop. But that depended on being lucky enough to catch some major incidents on tape. We decided to use multiple camera crews working 24/7 with four different watches to make sure we covered as much of the action as possible.

We chose Manchester Fire and Rescue Service because we knew it was one of the most progressive in the country. The city has one of the biggest call-out rates of any area in the UK, yet it still has among the fastest average response times. But not only are the firefighters putting their lives on the line, they're often under attack and having vehicles vandalised while they're doing it.

Any major challenges to overcome?
We wanted to cover the action from beginning to end - from the 999 call coming in, to riding out with the crews and then battling the fire or making a rescue. We wired up the fire engines with fixed cameras inside and out to cover the drama from every angle.

Why did it work?
The way it was shot, definitely. The footage from our own camera crews plus the body-cams immerses the audience in the firefighter's world. We show you what it's like to battle a raging inferno on the top floor of a building with the floor collapsing right under your feet.