RiffTrax Shorts Season 14 Episode 1 What If We Had a Fire

As firefighters have always stressed, it's better to exercise caution than regret. "What If We Had a Fire" is a cautionary short about the importance of fire safety. Made in the 1940s, this black-and-white film aims to educate audiences on the basics of fire prevention. The story begins with a young couple, Bill and Mary, who are sound asleep when a raging fire breaks out in their house. The short takes the audience through various scenarios showing what not to do in case of a fire and what precautions to take beforehand.

The RiffTrax team begins the episode by welcoming the audience to the first episode of Season 14 and introducing the short. Throughout the episode, they provide humorous commentary, pointing out the absurdity of some of the scenes. They also draw from their own experiences with fire safety, discussing the importance of having a fire extinguisher and working smoke alarms in the house.

The short aims to teach viewers about the three sides of the fire triangle: heat, fuel, and oxygen. Heat is generated by a flame or spark, fuel is anything that burns, and oxygen is what fuels the fire. The RiffTrax team comically references the fire triangle throughout the episode, joking about how the audience could use this information at a party.

The film highlights numerous behaviors that put individuals in danger, such as smoking in bed, leaving electrical appliances on, and overloading circuits. The RiffTrax crew reacts comically, calling attention to the blatant disregard for basic safety measures by the characters in the short. They use sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek humor to comment on the ridiculousness depicted in the film to make it more accessible, relatable and engaging to the audience.

Towards the end of the short, the focus shifts to what to do in the case of a fire. The film stresses the importance of staying calm and not panicking, as well as the essential steps to follow for any fire outbreak regardless of the cause. The episode also provides some practical tips, such as having a fire escape plan and memorizing the number of the fire department.

As the short concludes, the RiffTrax team provides some parting wisdom, reminding the viewers that "fires can be extinguished, but foolishness is harder to put out." They encourage the audience not to engage in foolish behaviors that put them in danger, such as smoking in bed or leaving flammable materials near open flames.

The first episode of Season 14 of RiffTrax Shorts is an entertaining, humorous take on the serious topic of fire safety. Through their comedic commentary, the crew makes the film more accessible to a modern audience while also providing valuable lessons to stay safe in the event of a fire.