Page "Ladder 49" Paragraph 1

The film opens with Baltimore firefighter Jack Morrison ( Joaquin Phoenix ) saving a man's life in a massive 4-Alarm grain elevator / warehouse Fire in the waterfront Canton neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland.

However, the grain being stored in the warehouse explodes, sending Jack falling through several floors, landing and breaking his leg.

The film follows the efforts of the other men in his unit, Ladder Company 49, led by the efforts of Deputy Chief Mike Kennedy ( John Travolta ), his longtime mentor, to rescue him while Jack tries to reach a safe area of the burning structure.

Interspersed with the current rescue efforts are a series of flashbacks showing how Jack joined the fire department, his meeting with the woman who would become his wife ( Jacinda Barrett ), his relationship with his children and the bonds he formed, and trials and tribulations he endured with his fellow firefighters.