Written and directed by Tylor Norwood, enter the spectacle and drama of a Megafire, alongside firefighting teams struggling to save anything they can while protecting each other; revealing the friendship, heartbreak, and exhilaration of going to war against an elemental force.
The most surprising thing about Fireline is that knowing the harrowing and exhausting work that goes into a firefighter’s job dealing with raging wildfires, you’re definitely not going to expect as much passion and positivity as you’ll find. The key theme to this documentary is not their struggle but their clear, unending devotion to the job. They’re more than aware of the danger than they face and are clever enough to fear the violent possibilities but they’re also fuelled with adrenaline to get to grips with the problem and fix it, much like any other job.
At one point, they even refer to what they’re facing as a “200-foot wall of flame”, something that for most people daunting wouldn’t even be a strong enough word but these men are just ready to dive right in. It’s rather incredible to watch that attitude, impossible not to respect their motivation and commitment. Although, that’s not to say it’s light-hearted, Fireline does also acknowledge the complexity of the job, the intense organisation and awareness that it requires.
Unsurprisingly, there are some impressive visuals at work, they’re shocking to watch but stunningly shot. Tylor Norwood’s direction has a nicely off-the-cuff feel, jumping in like it’s one of the crew and following them into danger. In that sense there’s a great casual and conversational feel to the way it interacts with its subjects. They each talk to the camera naturally, it never feels like an interview or structured, it simply follows the organic flow of these men doing their job.
Fireline captures the danger of wildfires and the dedication of those who fight them. It has a great, natural feel but also manages to encapsulate the intensity and risks that are involved. It’s shot well to get some fantastic and harrowing footage while holding onto an organic feel, simply getting on camera the natural state rather than trying to orchestrate the perfect shot. The subjects also have a surprising and almost infectious passion for the work which is captivating to watch.
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