Fire Danger

* Week Ahead

"**Fire Danger**" is the ninth episode of the analog horror series, Eventide Media Center, created by Aidan Chick.

## Synopsis

The episode, like "Oceanview Forecast" and "Week Ahead," appears to be a recording of a news announcement. It begins with a very brief advertisement for a Powera chainsaw before continuing with the news bulletin for the town of Ashenfield. Taking place on July 23, 1979, the bulletin (implied to be created or endorsed by the Ashenfield Department of Natural Resources) announces the level of fire danger (Low) via a meter, and states that there are no restrictions. It goes on to state that a controlled burn will take place the next day at 3:35 PM, and to be ready for possible detours.

It is notable that the fire danger meter's hand is slowly but continuously moving along as the episode progresses. At this point it is almost entering the Moderate level.

The announcement resumes the following day, July 24th. The bulletin repeats the scheduling of the planned controlled burn at 3:35 PM, with the meter now reading Moderate. Furthermore, the announcement mentions a "ceremony" occurring a little over a half hour before the controlled burn, though this is not elaborated on.

The fire danger meter hand continues moving, just barely entering the High zone, as the bulletin informs viewers to go to their local fire station soon. Another message from the fire department, after barely a minute, states that the ceremony will begin "shortly."

This is followed by another view of the meter (now officially at the High mark) and a more commanding message to go to the fire station "now." The temperature is also starting to gradually climb.

This cuts to live aerial footage of the controlled burn, with smoke covering many of the trees. This shifts back to a new message from the fire department stating that the burn is underway and advising non-participants to "seek shelter."

The meter now points to the Very High mark, while the temperature has risen to over 100 degrees. Despite the burn happening on time, the news report then states that residents should "prepare for emergency action," indicating that something may have gone wrong. This is confirmed by the next fire department message stating that the burn has turned into a full blown wildfire, heading towards Ashenfield Bypass. More live footage shows that the burn was a "failure," along with video of a massive fire.

The meter now reads Extreme, the highest setting, as the temperature now reaches 115 degrees. The fire department urges any who are able to come to a nearby fire station immediately (though it is not stated why).

The video returns once more to live footage, showing not just the wildfire, but the skeletal remains of a potential victim, still engulfed in the blaze. This skeleton appears to have died in a kneeling position. The shot then moves towards the tops of the trees, over which towers an enormous, multi-armed insectoid or treelike creature, obscured by the flames and smoke.

The footage then cuts out, with the station citing "technical difficulties." The recording ends with an upcoming episode for a cooking segment, with a focus on *barbecue*.

The Eventide Media Center logo credit rolls.

## Transcript

Note: All errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation are original to the video, and are not typos made by the editor(s) of this article.

"C9

POWERA

See the Yellow Pages under 'Saws'"

(audio seemingly says the end of powera, with the ad being over)

"Coming Up...

Ashenfield Fire Department Fire Danger Level

9 WAFD Ashenfield"

"ASHENFIELD DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES"

"July 23, 1979

5:33 PM

81° F

FIRE DANGER FOR TODAY...

Low

NO RESTRICTIONS FOR TODAY"

"A MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT:

TOMORROW AT 3:35 PM EDT, A CONTROLLED BURN WILL OCCUR AT THE JUNCTION OF CR-32 AND ASHENFIELD BYPASS. BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE DETOURS WHEN TRAVELLING.

July 23, 1979

5:33 PM"

"July 23, 1979

5:34 PM

82° F

FIRE DANGER FOR TODAY...

Low

NO RESTRICTIONS FOR TODAY

SEE LOCAL STATION FOR UPDATES"

"C9

YOU CAN PREVENT WILDFIRES."

"July 24, 1979

2:48 PM

95° F

FIRE DANGER FOR TODAY...

Moderate

CONTROLLED BURN AT 3:35 PM

OPEN FIRES PROHIBITED"

"A MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT:

TODAY AT 3:35 PM EDT, A CONTROLLED BURN WILL OCCUR AT THE JUNCTION OF CR-32 AND ASHENFIELD BYPASS. BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE DETOURS WHEN TRAVELLING.

YOU TOO CAN HELP PREVENT WILDFIRES. VISIT YOUR LOCAL FIRE STATION TO LEARN MORE. TODAY'S CEREMONY BEGINS AT 3:00 PM.

July 24, 1979

2:49 PM"

"July 24, 1979

2:49 PM

95° F

FIRE DANGER FOR TODAY...

Moderate

VISIT YOUR LOCAL FIRE STATION SOON"

"A MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT:

YOU TOO CAN HELP PREVENT WILDFIRES. VISIT YOUR LOCAL FIRE STATION TO LEARN MORE. TODAY'S CEREMONY BEGINS SHORTLY.

July 24, 1979

2:49 PM"

"July 24, 1979

2:50 PM

96° F

FIRE DANGER FOR TODAY...

High

VISIT YOUR LOCAL FIRE STATION NOW"

"C9

JULY BURN CONTROL"

"A MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT:

CONTROLLED BURN CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS. THOSE NOT PARTICIPATING ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

July 24, 1979

3:37 PM"

July 24, 1979

3:38 PM

108° F

FIRE DANGER FOR TODAY...

Very High

REMAIN INDOORS AT THIS TIME

PREPARE FOR EMERGENCY ACTION"

"A MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT:

CONTROLLED BURN IS NOW CLASSIFIED AS A HIGH-HAZARD WILDFIRE. FIRE LINE CURRENTLY HEADING TOWARD ASHENFIELD BYPASS AND GROVE CREEK.

July 24, 1979

3:38 PM"

"9 WAFD Ashenfield

JULY BURN CONTROL FAILURE"

July 24, 1979

3:38 PM

115° F

FIRE DANGER FOR TODAY...

Extreme

NO RESTRICTIONS AT THIS TIME"

"A MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT:

IF YOU ARE CAPABLE, ANY AND ALL CITIZENS OF ASHENFIELD MUST REPORT TO A LOCAL FIRE STATION IMMEDIATELY.

YOU TOO CAN PREVENT WILDFIRES.

July 24, 1979

3:39 PM"

"9 WAFD Ashenfield

JULY BURN CONTROL FAILURE"

"9WAFD Ashenfield

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

*We'll be back shortly"*

"Coming Up...

Barbecue Hour With Ricky Jackson."

## "Bulletin"

On July 24, 2021, the official Twitter posted a supplemental poster to go along with the episode. It is a memorial to a firefighter who lost their lives, and mentions that wildfires can be prevented by action. It repeats the line that "you too can prevent wildfires" from the entry. In the background behind the trees, the monstrous figure of the video footage is seen with slightly more clarity: the being looks wiry and boasts at least four, spike-tipped arms.

## Trivia

* The town of Ashenfield was first mentioned in the entry "Oceanview Forecast." Considering its mention there, it is likely that the town survived the events of this episode. It is also briefly referenced in "Midnight Movie."
* It has been speculated that the controlled burn was a cover for simply setting the forest on fire, for some unexplained reason (some have cited that this may have been part of the "ceremony" mentioned). This is supported by the fact that it would not make sense to have a controlled burn during the hotter summer months, when the risk of a wildfire is far higher. The ad at the start of the video also appears to support this idea, featuring a chainsaw for cutting down trees.
* From the prevention poster, the demands for people to come to the fire station and the motto about preventing wildfires, it could be speculated that not enough people came for the ceremony alluded to before, resulting in the controlled burn going out of control and the monstrous entity to rise.
* This entry's creature seems to loosely resemble the giant wicker statue for sacrifices from the film "The Wicker Man."