There are actually two versions of this film. One version (the re-edit) was shown to the public as a demonstration of the earliest use of editing. It was later discovered that somebody re-edited this film in the 1930s or 1940s based on the real footage that had been salvaged. In the original version of the film, the interior point of view is shown first and completed. Then the exact same action repeating itself is shown again from the exterior.
One of the 50 films in the 3-disk boxed DVD set called "More Treasures from American Film Archives, 1894-1931" (2004), compiled by the National Film Preservation Foundation from 5 American film archives. This film is preserved by the Museum of Modern Art, has a running time of 6 minutes and an added piano and vocal music score.
The print used on the DVD release ("More Treasures From American Film Archives 1894-1931, Program 1) was copied at 18 frames per second from a 35mm print preserved by MoMA (Musuem Of Modern Art). It in turn is from an unaltered nitrate exhibition print first preserved in 1979.
The music in the DVD release is "Fireman's Quick March" by John C. Andrews and the sung portion is "The Fireman's Call" sung by William Cutter, MIT's choral director.
Life of an American Fireman is lodged for copyright in Washington on the 21st January 1903.