MARANA, Ariz. — "These are good nights, these are times that we have a good time and enjoy ourselves," said engineer Jared Gonzalez, with the North West Fire District.
It isn't just another night on the job for the crew at Station 335 on Christmas Eve.
"The fact that we're a firefighter doesn't change when we're off duty and the fact that we're parents when we're on duty doesn't change either."
While there is a community to keep safe firefighters balance their job with holiday.
"We come to work on a daily basis, ready to go serve the community and respond to emergencies and help the public and when our families are left at home, we take the opportunity to bring them into a station with us," Gonzalez said.
"So we had food here together and the kids got to play," said Elizabeth Lowe, a firefighter wife.
"They played basketball and football and we just hung out."
Gonzalez said emergency calls still come in and his crew is ready to respond.
"We kind of have a system set up with our wives ahead of time, when tones go off and we've got to go, they understand that."
