the steady nerves of an l.a. fireman. >> they were getting so close to the car. it was something dangerous for sure. >> august 19th, 2011. a parked car bursts into flames on a los angeles street, and firefighters quickly respond to the call. john hears the commotion outside his apartment and films the action on the street below. >> i was on the balcony. i was shooting it to show how firefighters were extinguishing the fire. i thought it might be some interesting memory for me. >> thick black smoke and flames pour out of the car as a firefighter grabs a hose and approaches the burning vehicle. he begins to douse the flames and get the fire under control. but what appears to be a routine job takes a sudden and potentially deadly turn. the front of the car explodes mere inches away from the fireman's head.