Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Watch us on Youtube Join the Archive Mailing List Read our Blog
Title:

"Press conference announcing arson hotline"

Date:
July 18, 1980

Synopsis

Coverage of a press conference announcing an arson hotline for people to anonymously report suspicious activity. Mayor Tom Bradley talks about creating an arson suppression task force the previous year in response to the growing arson problem across the country. One of the things the task force recommended was a public awareness program. Paul Ditzel, a member of that task force speaks about a damaging school fire caused by arson, the creation of the hotline, and the types of activities people should call the hotline about. A uniformed man addresses the need for the government and citizens to work together to address a serious issue. It is possible he is Los Angeles City Fire Captain Patrick McGuinness who commanded the arson section at the time this footage was filmed. Clip includes silent footage of cameramen and shots of KTLA reporter Tony Valdez.