Backdraft is an American movie released in 1991, directed by Ron Howard and written by Gregory Widen. Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Robert De Niro and Scott Glenn star. Donald Sutherland, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rebecca De Mornay, Jason Gedrick and JT Walsh are also featured. The story is about firefighters in Chicago on the trail of a serial arsonist. A fictional chemical substance, trychtichlorate, is used by the arsonist to set the fires. ... Backdraft Chicago Fire Department Engine 17 ...