January 17 (1974-01-17) – August 1, 1974 (1974-08-01)
Firehouse is a half-hour American drama/adventure series that aired on ABC. A mid-season replacement, it started airing on January 17, 1974, and was cancelled after its 13-episode run.[1] The series ran on Thursdays from 8:30 to 9:00 p.m., with the last rerun episode aired on August 1, 1974.[2] The series starred James Drury as Captain Spike Ryerson.[2]
Pilot movie
The series pilot was broadcast in 1973 on the ABC Movie of the Week and starred Richard Roundtree and Richard Jaeckel. The pilot concerned a formerly all-white firehouse learning to accept a black rookie firefighter.[3] All racial difficulties were dropped from the series.[4]
Richard Jaeckel was the only actor to appear in both the pilot movie and the series.[3][2]
Capt. Spike Ryerson acted as a father-figure to the young firefighters[2] of Engine Company Number 23, of the Los Angeles Fire Department.[4] Each episode had two stories, a fire to fight, and a rescue. Because of the 30 minute length there was not time to give depth to the characters, develop friendships, or discuss family life.[5]
Episodes
No.
Title
Original air date
1
"Burst of Flame"
January 17, 1974 (1974-01-17)
Capt. Ryerson and his men race against time to save six people caught in an elevator in a blazing office building.
2
"Sentenced to Burn"
January 24, 1974 (1974-01-24)
After rescuing a man from a mudslide, Capt. Ryerson and his men fight a fire at a prison and several are taken hostage by the convicts.
3
"The Hottest Place in Town"
January 31, 1974 (1974-01-31)
Capt. Ryerson's men fight a devastating fire in a crowded new nightclub as well as the threat of rip-off artists in their own station house.
4
"Trapped"
February 7, 1974 (1974-02-07)
After saving a man's new dump truck from fire, Capt. Ryerson and his men rush to a tunnel project.
5
"Implosion"
February 14, 1974 (1974-02-14)
Capt. Ryerson and his men rescue a boy stuck in a heating duct, and then battle a spectacular oil refinery blaze.
6
"The Treasure"
February 21, 1974 (1974-02-21)
After saving a pregnant woman trapped by downed high tension wires, Capt. Ryerson and his men rush to an old decaying mansion which is ablaze.
7
"Strike, Spare and Burn"
February 28, 1974 (1974-02-28)
Capt. Ryerson and his men respond to a fire at an old theater building where a vault filled with potentially explosive nitrate film threatens the entire neighborhood.
8
"Tide of Terror"
March 7, 1974 (1974-03-07)
After an ill-fated date with his girlfriend, Caputo joins his colleagues to help rescue a young woman trapped in swirling water under an ocean pier.
9
"No Way Out"
March 14, 1974 (1974-03-14)
Capt. Ryerson and his men save a boy from being buried alive, and also fight a potentially devastating fire in a laundry.
10
"A Gift for Grumper"
March 21, 1974 (1974-03-21)
Capt. Ryerson and his men struggle to save priceless art from a museum fire, not realizing that their friend, arson inspector "Grumper" Barkham is trapped in the blaze.
11
"Randall's Pride"
March 28, 1974 (1974-03-28)
Capt. Ryerson's men save a girl who has driven over a cliff after an argument with her boyfriend, then respond to a fire which is destroying a horse stable.
12
"The Watches of the Night"
April 4, 1974 (1974-04-04)
Capt. Ryerson's men battle a blaze in a slum apartment, then rescue partygoers at a top dress designer's first night celebration.
13
"False Alarm"
April 11, 1974 (1974-04-11)
Capt. Ryerson is hospitalized for a possible heart ailment, and his worried men are called upon to save a young man suffering from a drug overdose, as well as battle a blaze in a junk-filled garage.
