Updated: December 20, 2021
Code Red is an American drama television series that ran on ABC from November 1, 1981 to
September 12, 1982 and was produced by Irwin Allen. This was Allen's sixth and final
television series, and his only series not produced for 20th Century Fox.
The series stars Lorne Greene as Battalion Fire Chief Joe Rorchek and his family, some of
whom, his elder sons Ted (Andrew Stevens) and Chris (Sam J. Jones), serve as firemen under
his direct command as part of the Los Angeles Fire Department. In addition, Haley Green
(Martina Deignan), the first female firefighter in the LAFD, is under Rorchek's command and
serves with distinction both professionally and as a friend of the Rorcheks.
In addition, Joe Rorchek's preteen adopted son, Danny Blake (Adam Rich) serves as a member of
the Firefighter Explorers organization, complete with his own uniform and turnout gear.
Although still a child, Danny dreams of joining the family profession and enjoys privileged
access to his family's professional activities. As a result, he has numerous adventures of his
own armed with a cool head in the face of crisis and considerable fire safety and first aid
skills for his age. Despite the danger, the male members of the Rorchek family have the full
support of Ann Rorchek (Julie Adams), Joe's wife, who is proud of her family's calling.
In addition to family drama, the characters have numerous adventures with the various fires and
other emergencies that happen in their operating area.
The series began with a television movie as Joe Rorchek as an arson investigator who is pursuing
a dangerous arsonist who uses firebombs to start serious blazes that Rorchek's sons have to fight.
Meanwhile, Green, recently assigned to the Rorcheks' unit, strives to prove herself to skeptical
fire fighter Al Martelli (Jack Lindine). When the series was approved for production, Greene's
character was reassigned to command the task force "Station 1" (in actuality, the real LAFD Station
49, which was used for establishing and exterior shots during the show's production), located on
the city's waterfront as a more suitable premise for the series. The station is a large one, equipped
with not only a varied ground fleet of vehicles including a personal car for Chief Rorchek, but
also a helicopter piloted by Chris Rorchek and a fireboat moored at a dock built into the station.
Given that the series was scheduled for early Sunday evening for a family audience, many episodes end
with a coda where a cast member addresses the audience about fire safety and first aid.
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