al arm ▁fire ▁in ▁a ▁ 2 0 - story ▁concrete ▁gra in ▁elev ator / ware house ▁in ▁the ▁C anton ▁water front ▁neighborhood ▁of ▁Baltimore , ▁Maryland . ▁However ▁the ▁gra in ▁being ▁stored ▁in ▁the ▁w are house ▁expl odes , ▁causing ▁Jack ▁to ▁fall ▁through ▁several ▁flo ors ▁and ▁break ▁his ▁leg . ▁The ▁film ▁follows ▁the ▁efforts ▁of ▁the ▁other ▁men ▁in ▁his ▁unit , ▁Lad der ▁Company ▁ 4 9 , ▁led ▁by ▁the ▁commands ▁of ▁Deput y ▁Chief ▁Mike ▁Kennedy ▁( John ▁Tra vol ta ), ▁Jack ' s ▁ment or , ▁to ▁rescue ▁him ▁while ▁Mor r ison ▁tries ▁to ▁reach ▁a ▁safe ▁area ▁of ▁the ▁burning ▁structure . ▁Inter sp ers ed ▁with ▁the ▁current ▁rescue ▁efforts ▁are ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁flash back s ▁showing ▁how ▁Jack ▁joined ▁the ▁fire ▁department , ▁his ▁first ▁meeting ▁( at ▁a ▁super market ) ▁with ▁the ▁woman ▁who ▁would ▁eventually ▁become ▁his ▁wife ▁( Jac inda ▁Bar rett ), ▁his ▁relationship ▁with ▁his ▁children , ▁and ▁the ▁b onds ▁he ▁formed ▁and ▁the ▁tri als ▁and ▁trib ulations ▁he ▁end ured ▁with ▁his ▁fellow ▁fire fig h ters . ▁ ▁After ▁gradu ating ▁from ▁the ▁fire ▁a cademy , ▁Jack ▁is ▁sent ▁to ▁work ▁on ▁Baltimore ▁City ▁Fire ▁Department ▁( BC FD ) ▁Engine ▁Company ▁ 3 3 , ▁in ▁the ▁bus iest ▁fire house ▁in ▁the ▁city . ▁Qu arter ed ▁with ▁Engine ▁ 3 3 ▁is ▁Lad der ▁Company ▁ 4 9 . ▁On ▁Engine