EUREKA, Mo. – Firefighters in Eureka began their 48-hour shifts Christmas morning, but they wouldn't let the holiday pass without a celebration.
"Get everyone here and get everyone in the spirit,” Alex Hawkins said.
The firefighters stationed at firehouse 1 prepared a feast, inviting their friends from the city's other two houses for dinner.
“We all knew the job we signed up for when we started, someone's got to work,” Hawkins said.
But even though they had to work, they still made the holiday special in their own way.
“We don't have a thermometer for our turkey, so we're using our thermal imaging camera,” Hawkins said.
Their kitchen tools may not be traditional, but the meal — centered around ham and fried turkey — is.
"This tradition is important to us. This is our second family,” Lt. Steve McKinney said.
And some of their first families even stopped by to share Christmas dinner with them.
"Just having your fire family and your real family makes it all worthwhile,” McKinney said.
