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First responders treat Christmas day like any other day

Police officers, firefighters, and EMS crews spend their holidays working to keep you safe.
Credit: Rachel Polansky

PARMA, Ohio — Parma Firefighter Brian Persons is spending his Christmas "answering calls all day and all night."

That's because rather than spending time with his wife or daughters, Persons focused this holiday on keeping the public safe.

He was doing his job, just like any other day, because he was on duty – along with four other firefighters at Parma Fire Department’s Station Five.

“We work 8 in the morning to 8 tomorrow morning,” said Persons. 

And, he's not bitter about it because he enjoys serving his community.

“It's something I've always wanted to do ever since I was a kid, ya know, seeing the fire trucks roll by,” said Persons.

Credit: Rachel Polansky

And, emergencies don't wait until after the holidays to happen.

“Today has been pretty steady, we've had four or five calls and a wide range of calls at that,” said Persons.

But it's not all work and no play.

These firefighters say they're not just co-workers.

“They’re family,” said Persons.

Credit: Rachel Polansky

And their family has traditions. That includes eating a Christmas meal together.

“Prime roast, potatoes, and green beans,” said Persons.

As far as call volume on Christmas day, it varies year to year but generally, the amount of calls coming in is about the same as any other day.

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