Sullivan Fire
Wurtsboro, New York | Film Short
Documentary
A gripping documentary short following volunteer firefighters across Sullivan County, NY, a small community 75 miles north of NYC. With unprecedented access, fellow firefighter and documentarian Chris Ramirez tells their stories.
Sullivan Fire
Wurtsboro, New York | Film Short
Documentary
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $18,000 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
49 supporters | followers
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A gripping documentary short following volunteer firefighters across Sullivan County, NY, a small community 75 miles north of NYC. With unprecedented access, fellow firefighter and documentarian Chris Ramirez tells their stories.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Sullivan Fire is a short-form documentary about volunteer firefighters in Upstate New York, the seemingly ordinary people who carry an extraordinary responsibility.
Told with rare access by filmmaker and volunteer firefighter Chris Ramirez, Sullivan Fire is an intimate, ground-level look at the unpaid firefighters who hold together a fragile public safety net through personal sacrifice and deep ties to the communities they protect. By stepping inside the lives of young volunteer firefighters, the film reveals something profound: beneath the gear and sirens are people balancing family, school, and responsibility, just like the rest of us. That perspective gives the film its emotional weight and authenticity.
At its most gripping, Sullivan Fire places you right in the action. A smoke-filled hallway sequence unfolds with such intensity that you can almost feel the heat and uncertainty, unsure of what comes next. It’s immersive, tense, and unforgettable.
As the volunteer ranks decline nationwide, entire communities are left increasingly vulnerable. Sullivan Fire tells the story of a system under unprecedented strain and confronts a difficult question: What happens if there’s no one to answer the call?
This is more than a film about firefighting; it’s a reflection on purpose, community, and what it means to care about one another. Your support for Sullivan Fire will help complete post-production and bring the film to audiences through festivals, educational screenings, and community events, encouraging meaningful conversations about service, belonging, and what gives life value.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Editing
Costs $7,500
This budget will cover our editor, Elise Ahrens. Elise currently has four weeks completed.
Color Grade and Sound Mix
Costs $6,000
Once the edit is locked, we’ll move into the final post, professional color, and sound mix for a polished finish.
Music Score
Costs $4,000
We are seeking to hire a composer who can create an original score that matches the emotional tone of each moment in the film.
Marketing and Merchandise
Costs $2,500
The film will be promoted through social media with paid ads and in-person fundraising events. Merchandise will be used as incentives.
Film Festivals
Costs $2,000
This support will cover festival submission fees and travel, giving the film a real shot at connecting with audiences.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Chris Ramirez, director and creator of the short documentary Sullivan Fire. The film centers on my brother and sister volunteer firefighters here in Sullivan County, New York, just 75 miles northwest of New York City.
For twenty years, I worked as a newspaper photojournalist, including fifteen years for The New York Times. Eventually, I moved into digital nonfiction cinematography, and around the same time, I became a firefighter myself.
Both roles demand that you arrive when it matters most, but I learned quickly that you can’t split your focus between them. You’re either there to document the outcome, or you’re there to change it. Trying to do both at once means failing at one or both of them, and when the stakes are high, that’s not an option.
Elise Ahrens is our editor and story guru, a self-proclaimed compulsive filmmaker in the best possible way. She came on board in November 2025 and immediately dove headfirst into eight years of footage, patiently untangling it, shaping it, and finding the stories buried inside.
Gabe Montagnani of Graphene Productions is the definition of a Swiss Army knife in the film business. CamOp, Sound, Lighting, DIT, and Line Producer. He’s our go-to producer, the guy who steps in when something (or someone) is missing and quietly makes it happen. Gabe is also a volunteer firefighter with the Peekskill Fire Department in Westchester, NY.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Sullivan Fire is a short-form documentary about volunteer firefighters in Upstate New York, the seemingly ordinary people who carry an extraordinary responsibility.
Told with rare access by filmmaker and volunteer firefighter Chris Ramirez, Sullivan Fire is an intimate, ground-level look at the unpaid firefighters who hold together a fragile public safety net through personal sacrifice and deep ties to the communities they protect. By stepping inside the lives of young volunteer firefighters, the film reveals something profound: beneath the gear and sirens are people balancing family, school, and responsibility, just like the rest of us. That perspective gives the film its emotional weight and authenticity.
At its most gripping, Sullivan Fire places you right in the action. A smoke-filled hallway sequence unfolds with such intensity that you can almost feel the heat and uncertainty, unsure of what comes next. It’s immersive, tense, and unforgettable.
As the volunteer ranks decline nationwide, entire communities are left increasingly vulnerable. Sullivan Fire tells the story of a system under unprecedented strain and confronts a difficult question: What happens if there’s no one to answer the call?
This is more than a film about firefighting; it’s a reflection on purpose, community, and what it means to care about one another. Your support for Sullivan Fire will help complete post-production and bring the film to audiences through festivals, educational screenings, and community events, encouraging meaningful conversations about service, belonging, and what gives life value.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Editing
Costs $7,500
This budget will cover our editor, Elise Ahrens. Elise currently has four weeks completed.
Color Grade and Sound Mix
Costs $6,000
Once the edit is locked, we’ll move into the final post, professional color, and sound mix for a polished finish.
Music Score
Costs $4,000
We are seeking to hire a composer who can create an original score that matches the emotional tone of each moment in the film.
Marketing and Merchandise
Costs $2,500
The film will be promoted through social media with paid ads and in-person fundraising events. Merchandise will be used as incentives.
Film Festivals
Costs $2,000
This support will cover festival submission fees and travel, giving the film a real shot at connecting with audiences.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Chris Ramirez, director and creator of the short documentary Sullivan Fire. The film centers on my brother and sister volunteer firefighters here in Sullivan County, New York, just 75 miles northwest of New York City.
For twenty years, I worked as a newspaper photojournalist, including fifteen years for The New York Times. Eventually, I moved into digital nonfiction cinematography, and around the same time, I became a firefighter myself.
Both roles demand that you arrive when it matters most, but I learned quickly that you can’t split your focus between them. You’re either there to document the outcome, or you’re there to change it. Trying to do both at once means failing at one or both of them, and when the stakes are high, that’s not an option.
Elise Ahrens is our editor and story guru, a self-proclaimed compulsive filmmaker in the best possible way. She came on board in November 2025 and immediately dove headfirst into eight years of footage, patiently untangling it, shaping it, and finding the stories buried inside.
Gabe Montagnani of Graphene Productions is the definition of a Swiss Army knife in the film business. CamOp, Sound, Lighting, DIT, and Line Producer. He’s our go-to producer, the guy who steps in when something (or someone) is missing and quietly makes it happen. Gabe is also a volunteer firefighter with the Peekskill Fire Department in Westchester, NY.