/sbin/modprobe ieee1394
Just a pet peeve about your subject line: IEEE is an organization with many diverse standards, of which 1394 is just one. GPIB (IEEE 488) is another, so I used to see your subject line used all the time in regards to GPIB problems. If you say IEEE, always say *which* standard you're talking about.
(Alas, I know little about 1394 on Linux, so can't help you.)
