Kan. Department's Recruitment Video Gaining Steam

The Hutchinson Fire Department has a new starring role. Not in current events, but rather on YouTube.

Footage of recent fire incidents has been transformed into a recruitment video and spread rather swiftly across social media platforms. The video has more than 5,300 views in just under a week.

“It’s the first in a long line of things to come,” said Jesse Martin, the department’s fire training captain.

Martin shot most of the video and edited the film himself. The video uses footage from recent fires, including the Jan. 16 blaze at Midwest Sewing and Vacuum and Nelson's Heating and Cooling.

Thanks to the availability of extreme-action helmet cameras, several firefighters have captured footage from recent incidents.

The helmet cameras provide footage from the point of view of the filmmaker. The department does not own the cameras, and footage is collected on a volunteer basis. However, the department does have some mounted cameras in the vehicles of the battalion chiefs. Some of that footage has also been used.

The department is now using the footage for work and play, making recruitment videos and using the footage in training exercises.

“It’s game film basically for us,” Martin said.

Martin has been a novice filmmaker for about three years. He started with family footage and then moved to fire films.

“The more these cameras become popular, the realm of possibilities becomes endless,” said Deputy Chief Doug Hanen.

Hanen said the department is currently looking into purchasing several cameras for department use.

In terms of recruitment, Hanen said the videos are a great way to compete with other local markets, such as Wichita and Topeka.

The videos, Hanen said, are great for recruitment and public outreach. The department posts the videos to both its Facebook page (http://hutchne.ws/HFD) and YouTube Channel (http://hutchne.ws/HFDYT).

“We try to teach the public a little bit without typing on the computer,” he said.

The current film has an intro lifted from Lucasfilm, the folks behind “Star Wars.” Using various online editing software, Martin said he has been able to add a bit more pop to his movies.

“George Lucas has never done anything wrong, so why not,” Martin said.

Martin is also honing his video editing skills by working on timing, transitions and music.

Another reason Martin said he enjoys making the videos is the morale boost it gives the department.

“If you show a fireman appreciation, they’ll exceed your expectations,” he said.

———

©2015 The Hutchinson News (Hutchinson, Kan.)

Visit The Hutchinson News (Hutchinson, Kan.) at www.hutchnews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC