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Fireman Sam: The Great Fire of Pontypandy
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Wikipedia article
'Fireman Sam: The Great Fire of Pontypandy' is a 2009 animated film, based on the CGI series 'Fireman Sam'.
Synopsis
Norman, Derek, Sarah, James and Dilys go pioneering with Trevor Evans in the forest. Norman and Derek attempt to light a campfire by rubbing sticks together. They are called away, not realising that the fire has caught, and this leads to the "Great Fire of Pontypandy".
Plot
During a stormy night at the Lighthouse, Charlie is working in the lighthouse. However, the wind causes him and the lighthouse door to blow over, leaving Charlie clinging onto the railings of the Lighthouse. Eventually, Fireman Sam and Elvis save him and manage to replace the broken lighthouse light as well. The following month, Sam is given an award by Chief Fire Officer Boyce, who offers him a promotion to head the rapid response service in Newtown. Sam promises to think about it until the end of the day, which is soon interrupted by a call informing them that Mike Flood has fallen off the boathouse roof and into the sea.
Dilys Price has invited Norman's cousin Derek on a camping trip with the other Pontypandy Pioneers. As they set off, Norman sneaks some sausages into his bag. At the Flood's house, Helen and Mandy are having trouble getting their car to work due to Mike's other works, with the former suggesting they go and find the Pioneers on foot instead, as they were all planning to spend family time together. Back at the Fire Station, Boyce tells Elvis how brave Station Officer Steele was fighting a fire, and this gets Elvis thinking on how to be a true hero like everyone else has been. Station Officer Steele himself is informed by Sam about the Pioneers Camping Trip, and that the hot weather could set a small spark of fire into a massive flame in seconds. Sam and Elvis set up signs to warn about it, while Trevor and the Pioneers get along ahead with their walk.
Meanwhile, while working at the lighthouse, Mike forgets his phone and the hammer and soon locks himself in the lighthouse after he mends the door. Back on the camping trip, Trevor sets up a mantrap to trap something, but after not finding anything, he leaves it without deactivating the trap. After finishing setting up the Fire signs, Elvis soon discovers that Sam may leave Pontypandy to take in the promotion at Newtown. After sneaking off, Norman cooks the sausages, ignoring all the fire warnings and sets fire to old wood using a sharp wood pin. Dilys finds them but fails to notice the fire, which soon expands. As Helen and Mandy are trying to find the campsite when Helen steps into the mantrap Trevor set up minutes earlier. Sam and Penny leave the station, but as Elvis and Radar are already there, Helen is rescued. Mike soon sees smoke coming from the forest and as his mobile is locked out, he uses the lighthouse to spell "FOREST FIRE" in Morse Code. Sam and Penny read the code and call Steele to the forest. The campsite group smell the smoke and leave the campsite to get out of the forest. The fire spreads to the campsite. Elvis and Radar find the group and follow Venus' siren, getting out of the forest before the fire engulfs it.
Tom attempts to dampen the forest down in his helicopter but has no effect so Station Officer Steele warns everyone that if they cannot contain it they will have to evacuate the town. Norman suggests that they should call other fire engines from Newtown but Steele tells him that they would be too far away to get there in time. By this point, the fire has completely cut the group off. Sam suggests that everyone can help by flattening the grass at the edge of the forest and keeping the heat down with the hoses. The fire reaches the edge of the forest and the four firefighters attack it, to little effect. A falling branch nearly hits Sam but Elvis comes to the rescue, diving and pushing Sam out of the way.
The fire is soon proven to be too much for the firefighters to handle, and soon Station Officer Steele then tells everyone to retreat to collect Chief Fire Officer Boyce and go straight to the harbour. They take one last look at the fire station and set off. The vehicles drive to the harbour as Sam looks at the stormy clouds, pleading them to come towards the fire. As everyone gets all aboard Charlie's boat, the rain pours down and puts out the fire to everyone's delight. As Norman and Derek celebrate not moving out of Pontypandy, the former's backpack flies up high, opens up and Radar soon reveals the sausages the two tried to cook earlier. Everyone is surprised, with Station Officer Steele scolds Norman for setting the forest on fire, and Dilys says that she will make sure Norman is properly dealt with. Chief Fire Officer Boyce is impressed with Fireman Sam, and the latter rejects his Newtown Fire Station offer, and decides to stay in Pontypandy because he sees the town needs him.
A month following the Great Fire of Pondypandy, Station Officer Steele and Chief Fire Officer Boyce reward Elvis for saving Fireman Sam and for his outstanding bravery. Trevor also rewards Mandy, Sarah and James with Survivor Medals, while Norman and Derek get nothing at all, blaming each other for wanting sausages. Mike Flood also apologizes to Mandy and Helen for not spending time with each other and agree to do so.
The movie ends with the townsfolk holding a huge party to celebrate, and follows on with the music video "He's Our Friend".
Cast
Reception
'Fireman Sam: The Great Fire of Pontypandy' was given a critical analysis on the website Raising Children Network. The film was rated G, and was advised for children aged 5 and up. The genre was "children's animated adventure", its length was 63 minutes and the release date was 28 October 2010. It commented on the prevalent themes, namely "the threat of fire; accidents and rescues". The review mentioned that some scenes could potentially scare or disturb children under 5, such as when "Mike falls off the roof of a house into the harbour, and struggles to stay afloat". The review concluded with some discussion points for parents with their children: "The main messages from this movie are about helping people in need and pulling together as a community. The movie also looks at the bad things that happen when you do the wrong thing. Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include selflessness, and care and concern for others. This movie could also give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life issues such as stealing, lighting fires, and ignoring safety instructions."
References
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