Scott Briggs – Compassion Spreads Like Wildfire:The Vicki Minor Story

We had the chance to talk with filmmaker Scott Briggs about his film Compassion Spreads Like Wildfire:The Vicki Minor Story which is an official selection at the Utah Film Festival. Compassion Spreads Like Wildfire:The Vicki Minor Story is about single mom Vicki Minor, while working at the wildland fire camps, is moved by the grievous loss of 14 wildland firefighters on the South Canyon Fire, to create The Wildland Firefighter Foundation, which helps the families of the fallen and injured wildland firefighters.

What was the inspiration to make Compassion Spreads Like Wildfire:The Vicki Minor Story?

While shooting a documentary about a wildland fire tragedy that took the lives of 19 men I heard stories from the families of these men about this amazing woman and her organization that helps the families who deal with these horrible circumstances.

I called her up and was on a plane to Boise the next day. Her story of compassion touched my soul and after spending  several weeks with her organization I had a dream. I literally dreamed this movie…woke up the next morning and wrote the screenplay. 

From idea to completion, how did this production change?  

Even though I had the story I had complete trust in my co-producer and casting director Emily Roth. She was responsible for the great cast and crew and brought in Tucker DeBevec who I felt so comfortable with in giving the directing reins to. 

What was the biggest challenge in getting Compassion Spreads Like Wildfire:The Vicki Minor Story made? 

Covid was still rampant and Sue Rowe, our lead, became deathly ill. Emily had a back-up , but I was adamant in having Sue -she was in my original dream and there was no way we were making this with-out her. I think she is the best actress…her level of talent make everyone level up. Thank God she became well enough to shoot and she was a trooper.

What do you think is the most important takeaway from Compassion Spreads Like Wildfire:The Vicki Minor Story?

I believe Vicki’s story allows any of us to rise up and accomplish the tasks we are destined for. She would be the first to tell you she didn’t do anything and the Wildland Firefighter Foundation built it self, but without her so many would have never received the blessings she helped bring about. If we believe and fight for what we believe we can accomplish anything.

If you could have a do over with Compassion Spreads Like Wildfire:The Vicki Minor Story is there anything that you would do differently? If so, what would that be?

We did this film as a surprise for Vicki so although I had heard her story I was not able to consult her regularly. If so perhaps it would have been a feature rather than a short. This is why we are writing her story as a book now to tell the whole story and it will be released together with the movie and Jason Raffoni’s amazing song “Stay in the Black” which is becoming the national anthem for the wildland firefighters.

What do you have next in the works?

I will be releasing “In The Black” a 90 min doc on the Yarnell Hill Fire that killed 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots and wiped a town back in 2013. I have been working on this for nearly 5 years and it will be released just before the 10 year anniversary. The film will tell the real story (not the Hollywood movie version of Only The Brave) and the cover up. Many documents showing the cover up will be revealed. Many brave firefighters have come forward speaking their truth of what happened that harrowing day. I’m so excited for Compassion Spreads Like Wildfire to come out around the beginning of the year along with Vicki’s book. 

How can we learn more about you and your projects?

Please go to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation website….this organization needs everyone’s love and support.