Los Angeles County Fire Museum Partners with Producers of Documentary “Into the Unknown: The Paramedics’ Journey”

LOS ANGELES—For nearly 50 years the Los Angeles County Fire Museum has been preserving and celebrating the history of the fire service and EMS. Now the museum has agreed to support the documentary “Into the Unknown: The Paramedics’ Journey.” Due out soon, the film will tell the real-life stories of today’s paramedics, featuring a half-dozen agencies throughout the U.S.

There is a strong connection between the museum, the documentary, and the TV show “Emergency!,” said Steve Martin, former LA County Assistant Fire Chief and a member of the documentary’s executive team.

“The show depicted LA County firefighters and paramedics, and the stars of the show, Randy Mantooth and Kevin Tighe, are the producers of the documentary,” Martin said. “The show’s iconic Squad 51 rescue truck was donated to the museum, one of the first in the collection of more than 70 historical and modern vehicles.”

Mantooth and Tighe both said they treasured the personal and professional relationships they have developed over the decades with the men and women involved with the museum. “To have them step up to support “Into the Unknown” as a major contributor is a true honor,” Mantooth continued.

Paul Schneider is a captain with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and is the past president and current treasurer of the museum. Like many firefighters and paramedics of his generation, he said he grew up inspired to become a first responder after watching Gage and DeSoto of Squad 51 bringing order out of chaos and helping countless people. 

“For nearly 30 years Randy Mantooth and Kevin Tighe have not only been steadfast supporters of our museum but also friends to us all,” Schneider said. “We have partnered on many worthy projects but this one is special—its potential impact is enormous. Our mission to honor and remember the special men and women in EMS is only strengthened with this documentary. The story of the modern paramedic needs to be told and we’re honored to help.”

In addition to Martin, the executive team on the documentary includes Baxter Larmon, founding director of the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care, Producer Tonya Mantooth, sister to Randy Mantooth and a ten-time Regional Emmy award winner, and Richard Carmona, MD, the nation’s 17th Surgeon General and a former military medic. Tom Putnam, a highly regarded documentary filmmaker, is the director of “Into the Unknown" and won multiple awards for “BURN,” an in-depth and engaging portrayal of Detroit firefighters.

FirstNet®, Built with AT&T*, is principal sponsor of the project. Additional sponsors supporting the documentary’s production include Masimo, ZOLL Medical Corporation and Public Safety Group.

To find out more about the documentary, the advisory committee, supporting organizations, and to view the official trailer, go to intotheunknowndoc.com. You can also sign up to get regular updates on the progress of the documentary and behind-the-scenes stories and footage.

The Into the Unknown Podcast has also launched. In this series, you’ll hear from the filmmakers, including executive producers Mantooth and Tighe. They’ll share never-before-told stories about the start of their careers and their experience on the show. Learn what they are doing today and what motivated them to become involved in the documentary. Streaming now on all podcast platforms: https://linktr.ee/intotheunknowndoc

*©2023 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.