It is the stuff Hollywood stunts are made of and our California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) members who are with the California State Fire Marshal’s office  are a part of it,  not as actors but as safety experts and teachers.

The State Fire Marshal’s office recently held a three-day class in Burbank to educate fire inspectors about explosives used on film sets and how to become a certified motion picture and television safety officer.

A lot can go wrong on the set when fire or explosives are involved and the State Fire Marshal’s class covers it all from bad wiring to flammable materials to emergency exits.

The Los Angeles Times quoted CSLEA member and Deputy State Fire Marshal Cindy Moore as follows: “We’re really trying to educate the local fire service as far as the movie industry way of doing things that are out of the norm.  We want to make them feel comfortable with things they are not going to see every day, so when something is going sideways, they can make it a safe environment. “

The three-day class was not a bore.  Firefighters learned hands-on as fiery stunts were performed.  This program is offered several times a year throughout the state and is designed to balance the “lights, camera, action” with extreme safety on the set.

“At one time there was friction between the film industry and our fire safety professionals given the fiery and sometimes deadly stunt accidents in the past,” said CSLEA President Alan Barcelona. “Our CSLEA members who work in the Fire Marshal’s office have never wavered from safety on the set, but instead, set out to educate and protect.  No one wants to take away from a dramatic movie scene or special effect, but no one wants a life lost, either.”

For photos & news coverage of the State Fire Marshal’s class, check out this link:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-onlocation-20121030,0,1023327.story