I Was a Fireman (aka Fires Were Started) (1943) | Directed by Humphrey Jennings

I Was a Fireman, later released commercially as Fires Were Started, is a British wartime docudrama depicting the heroic work of the Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) during the Blitz in World War II. The film follows a group of London firefighters as they battle relentless blazes caused by German bombing raids, focusing on their camaraderie, courage, and quiet endurance in the face of nightly destruction. It combines documentary realism with dramatic reconstruction to pay tribute to the civilian men and women who fought fires on the home front.

Genre: War, Documentary, Drama

Director: Humphrey Jennings

Humphrey Jennings (1907–1950) was a British filmmaker, poet, and painter celebrated for his documentary work during World War II. A leading member of the British Documentary Movement, Jennings was renowned for his lyrical and humanistic approach to realism. His films, including Listen to Britain and A Diary for Timothy, combined art, patriotism, and poetry to portray ordinary people with dignity and grace. Fires Were Started is often regarded as his masterpiece, praised for its authenticity and emotional depth. Jennings died tragically young in a climbing accident in Greece in 1950.

Star Cast:

Actual members of the Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) rather than professional actors

Philip Friend as Sub-Officer

Fred Griffiths as Fireman

George Gravett as Fireman

Tom Mitchell as Fireman

Cyril Demain as Fireman

Upon release, I Was a Fireman was praised for its realism and sincerity, though some wartime audiences found its subdued tone unusual compared to typical propaganda films. Critics admired its poetic documentary style and its ability to capture the spirit of collective resilience without sentimentality. In later decades, film historians hailed it as one of the greatest British wartime films, emblematic of Jennings’s unique gift for merging art and documentary truth. It remains a benchmark for realist cinema and an invaluable historical record of life during the Blitz.

Fun Facts:

The film was originally titled I Was a Fireman but shortened and re-edited to Fires Were Started for its theatrical release.

All performers were real firefighters who had served during the Blitz, lending remarkable authenticity to the scenes.

Jennings reconstructed the fire sequences using actual bombed-out London locations rather than sets.

The film’s dialogue was largely improvised, based on how the firefighters would naturally speak.

Fires Were Started was produced by the Crown Film Unit, part of the Ministry of Information, to boost morale and honour civilian service.

The film’s lyrical use of sound and montage has been compared to the works of Soviet filmmaker Dziga Vertov and American documentarian Pare Lorentz.

It continues to be studied in film schools for its innovative blend of realism and poetry.

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