Firestorm: Last Stand at Yellowstone (2006) (TV)

User Rating:

3.6/10   

Director:

John Lafia

Writers (WGA):

Mark Wheaton (written by) and
John Fasano (written by)

Release Date:

4 September 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Plot:

When a freakishly hot summer at Yellowstone National Park creates the perfect conditions for the largest forest fire in American History... Look out!

Cast

Richard Burgi	...	Richard Danville
Sarah-Jane Redmond	...	Valerie Danville
Ryan Kennedy	...	Jim
Philip Granger	...	Wirly Bird Wes Cash
Lynda Boyd	...	Margaret Sheldon
Tanya Allen	...	Ranger Annie Calgrove
Michael Daingerfield	...	Gerry (Maya's Dad)
Alexia Fast	...	Maya
Heather Feeney	...	Welcome Park Ranger
Scott Foley	...	Dr. Clay Harding
Jessica Amlee	...	Nikki Danville
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michele Bogdanow	...	Maya's Mother
Dawn Chubai	...	Markene Miller
Alex Corr	...	Chris
Reginald Hampton	...	New Anchor #2 (as Reg Hampton)
Jared Keeso	...	Sean Ellis
Diego Klattenhoff	...	Willis
Michael Kopsa	...	John (as Mike Kopsa)
John Lafia	...	Irate Man #2
Mi-Jung Lee	...	News Anchor
Bill Marchant	...	Park Ranger #2
Brian Markinson	...	Scott Clark
Kevin McNulty	...	Malcolm Levine
Ty Olsson	...	Riley Henson (as Ty Olson)

Also Known As:

Wildfires (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

180 min | 91 min (shortened version)

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Manning Park, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

BPI Wildfires Films

Inaccurate, Misleading Representaion of Firefighting

I lived within 12 miles of the fires this is based upon when they occurred in 1988 and this is a gross misrepresentation of the danger, both then and now. I also have been a firefighter and am trained in the use of fireline explosives.

While the sensationalism and misleading information about firefighting and crew relationships may keep the novice viewer on the edge of their seats, it does an injustice to both the opportunity to educate the public and to the crews that fight the fires. The special effects are dramatic, but fires do not simply appear out of nowhere and rangers would not be letting people set up camps, or even picnic, if there was imminent danger. The only thing I see that even comes close to accuracy is the misunderstanding and poor implementation of the "Let Burn Policy". While this did happen in '88, it would not happen today, as those fires served to clarify this policy long ago.

Finally, firefighters in general treat their superiors respectfully, even when they disagree, just as in the military, because their very lives depend on doing so. If they disagreed with a decision they would handle that disagreement by giving feedback with respect for the process that achieves fine-tuning of an evolving and effective plan.

This movie is simply a disservice to the entire process of forest firefighting, and is tacky to boot. Its only saving grace is that it has a pretty decent cast. Unfortunately this isn't enough to redeem what could have been a pretty good film if more thought, consultation with experts, and attention to detail had gone into its production.