"Sullivan Fire" is a 25-minute documentary that set in New York’s Catskill Mountains and focuses on the ins and outs of volunteer firefighting.

The film was directed and shot by volunteer firefighter Chris Ramirez, who is a lieutenant for the Summitville Fire Company in Sullivan County, NY.

This weekend the short film will premiere at the 27th Woodstock Film Festival, an Academy Award-qualifying festival.

"Overall, I feel that we as a society should recognize and watch films that show how and why we care about one another," Ramirez told firehouse.com. "The film is about passing the baton over from the older generation to the younger generation."

Ramirez’s career began in 1991 as a photojournalist for newspapers, and he didn’t shift his priority to filmmaking until 2012.

He joined the Summitville Fire Company in 2011 after spending time with them taking photos of the department. He also photographed firefighter one classes, which helped him gain a better understanding of what it takes to become a firefighter.

In 2023, Ramirez took a year off from firefighting to develop his documentary. Throughout his time in the fire service, he saw a need to recruit for the volunteer fire service, and he wanted to be a catalyst for bringing more attention to it.

"How do we recruit people? Why do people join? People typically join because of exposure," Ramirez said. "It comes from seeing a friend running to the firehouse, a car accident you're in or a house fire. I hope this film will reach people who know nothing about the fire service. This is their first real up-close exposure to what we do. It might unlock somebody's ability to volunteer."

Ramirez shot "Sullivan Fire" over six years and pieced together unique stories from a half-dozen firefighters, with a closer look at three of them.

"It focuses on these individuals and what strikes them," Ramirez told Firehouse. It's really them telling their own stories, for the most part."

The documentary's title comes from the county's 9-1-1 call sign, and it was elevated in 2023 when Ramirez hired a story editor and composer to score the film. Ramirez took the next step after receiving a $10,000 grant from the Sullivan County Firefighters Association.

After post-production, Ramirez showed the short film to six different departments, and the edits changed each time slightly based on feedback.

"We wanted to put it out to the fire service first so that they can get a feel for it," Ramirez said. "Every person said that we need to get this in front of young adults."

The film aims to show the passing of the baton from the older generation to the newer generation, hopefully attracting 17- to 30-year-olds to volunteer in the fire service, according to Ramirez. The documentary represents that age range well, and Ramirez hopes they connect with it.

"In the fire service, I realized it came down to trust," Ramirez said. "You have to find the storytellers that you actually trust. A lot of people don't have that sensibility about how to tell a story truthfully and honestly."

At the Woodstock Film Festival, Ramirez said there will be a question and answer after the showing, which will lead to the next steps for the film.

While there are no set plans after the festival, Ramirez wants to get "Sullivan Fire" into schools and spark discussions in educational settings.

"It's an impact film, and we'll change people," Ramirez said. "We'll unlock people's ability to volunteer."