Watching: Design for Disaster

Overview

This 1962 documentary tells the story of a fire that started on November 5th, 1961 in Bel Air, Los Angeles, and over the course of three days destroyed 484 homes, damaged 190 others, and burned over 16,000 acres. The $30 million disaster led to new laws by the city to eliminate wood shingle roofs and to clear dry brush away from homes. The film was produced by the Los Angeles Fire Department and is narrated by actor William Conrad