TCHS Alumni News - Double F Productions' Special Effects Morph into Fire, Safety Training

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Profile: Tom Ford '60

Double F Productions' Special Effects Morph into Fire, Safety Training

Anticipation: We can't prove it, but it sounds to us like "3...2...1..." Tom Ford '60 in last minute preparation to make a bright flash or a loud noise. (Credit Double F Productions)

Jan 18, 2004 -- Since the World Trade Center attack, public safety - especially fire and explosion danger has gained new recognition. Now the Class of 1960's Tom Ford is turning decades of firearms experience into a training program for public safety workers nationwide.

Tom's Double F Productions in Tucson has since the 1980s been a provider of special effects. The company has a list of film credits as long as your arm. A point of professional pride is Tom's skill at "completely destroying" things and places that he then instantly brings back into existence. Such as the "torched" cars he drives away or the "charred" houses the residents continue to occupy. Tom's knowledge of fuels and camera angles makes it all realistic but safe.

Hmmmm. Apparently dangerous yet safe, you say.

The 9-11 tragedy and other disasters made Tom aware of a new way to apply his extensive knowledge of pyrotechnics. This awareness has evolved into Double F's growing fire training business.

Working directly with public safety management, Double F brings a complete disaster scenario to the training event. Fuel, personnel, vehicles and veritable victims arrive on scene, prepared to create chaos for management by first responders like firefighters and police. Very hot! Very cool!

The company launched this new service in 2003, and first reports are that the training exercises performed to date have been well received by participants and public safety management. Preparation for presentations to national agencies is in progress, with meetings with government officials planned for Spring 2004.

Airport 2003! The scene erupts into catastrophe as a small plane is surrounded by flame. But this time it's not a movie.

Nearly ready, the trainers have brought an array of vehicles, debris and suitably dazed survivors to the scene of a simulated disaster.

The firefighters move in to separate a large fire from a fuel truck. Looks like it could be close. We have faith in that truck; it looks familiar.

Double F's fire disaster training drills replicate simple to worst case situations. The exercises are definitely not your average fire drill.

The safety department can choose from several training scenarios, such as car or truck bombs, human bombs, aircraft assaults, building fires, or Double F will help design a custom drill.

The training occurs safely in town at sites chosen by the managers to represent real tests of responsiveness and judgment of their personnel.

Double F stresses that the training is energy efficient and environmentally friendly. The principal fuel used is clean burning propane. Their years of movie work have taught them how to make it scary but non-toxic.

Many organizations, from fire stations to international airports have taken advantage of their know-how and expert execution. Their photo gallery has numerous photos of past anti-terrorism scenarios.

Tom Ford can be reached at (502) 403-5162 during normal business hours (Mountain time). A link to the company's web site appears below. (Check out their movie pix, too. You may recognize a scene.)

If you hear a loud noise in the background, don't be frightened. It's perfectly safe.

Double F Productions: Web Site; E-mail Double F

This alumni profile is part of a series we'll be doing in 2004. Do you have a fellow alumnus who should be profiled? Should You be profiled? Send a summary of why to the editor. (We have forms all over the place.) --Ed.

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