AUSTIN, Texas – An organization is raising money for Texas burn survivors with a special calendar.
- Hot Rescues unveils 2020 calendar
- Features firefighters with their pets
- Money raised goes to burn survivors
Hot Rescues had several area firefighters donate their time, and their smiles, posing with their pets for the Hot Rescues 2020 calendar.
LEARN MORE | Hot Rescues Facebook Page
"In the 2019 calendar we had three different departments and it was San Antonio, Houston and Austin. This year's 2020 calendar, we have seven departments and it's San Antonio, Houston, South Hays Fire Department, Castle Hills, Canyon Lake, Kerrville and Bexar County District 2," Dana Zamarripa, president of Hot Rescues said.
Zamarripa is also a firefighter and paramedic for the San Antonio Fire Department. She said the idea for the Hot Rescues calendar formed after the organization she volunteers for, Texas Burn Survivor Society, was needing money to send kids and young adults to burn survivor camps like Camp David and Camp Ax.
HELPFUL LINK | Hot Rescues Website
"Because I do volunteer with the Texas Burn Survivor Society on my off-time, it was really important to me to start something to help raise money. I spend every summer at burn camp with them and it's just amazing to see how much they love to play and ride horses and do archery. And just to see what this means to them and how much they enjoy their time out there, I wanted to do anything that I could to make sure that this continues,” said Zamarripa.
Aaron Ward is a South Hays firefighter, but right now, he's known as the calendar model around the station.
"I'm 'Mr. February.' I'm not one of the junior guys here at the station. So that makes it that much better for me in the sense of like 'Hey, he's a senior guy, I can't give him too much flak,'" said Ward.
Ward and his dog Luna posed for the calendar in front of the South Hays Fire Department station back in March and just got their hands on the printed calendars. He said when Zamarripa initially asked him to do the photoshoot, he knew had to say yes.
"It's just another way for me to help out the community. You know, as firefighters, we're putting our lives on the line every day as just selfless service. So this was just another way. When I heard that it was going toward the children for Camp David and actually the amount that it costs for just one child to go, knowing that this calendar was going to help somebody, I immediately knew that was something that I wanted to do,” said Ward.
Ward's chief, Richard Kasko, was very supportive of Aaron's decision to become a "model."
"Aaron's a great ambassador for the department. And I just love the fact that the calendar showcases firefighters and their pets and I really like the fact that it's just such a great cause," Chief Kasko said.
We asked Zamarripa which picture is her favorite. She said she had to give it to her coworker from the San Antonio Fire Department, Josh, or "Mr. August." He's pictured with his dog Olivia in a live fire shoot at the training academy.
"We have a fire prop at our Fire Academy. And then I put makeup on him to make him look dirty," Zamarripa said.
But when it came down to best smile, she said Ward had it in the bag.
"Really and truly, all the pictures in the calendar are great. Aaron's smile is my favorite though. It's like that sultry, good looking, good teeth smile," Zamarripa said.
Ward said he's happy with how his picture came out in the final calendar.
"It's kind of a little bit more to my personality, just you know, casual, simple, nothing too flashy," Ward said.
And to those of you wondering if this is one of those "hot firefighter" calendars.
"It's child friendly, more than anything. Somebody can buy it for their child or for their kids. And you know, it's not just the firemen that are featured, but it's also our pets. And I mean, dogs are man's best friend," Ward said.
If you'd like to purchase a Hot Rescues 2020 calendar, visit the Hot Rescues Website.