Firefighters and Deputies Enjoy Thanksgiving At Work

Men and women of public safety, including law enforcement officers and firefighters who are at post during Thanksgiving, find a way to celebrate and work at the same time.

It’s Thanksgiving and families across the nation are sitting down to a meal with their loved ones. But what happens when the stove starts smoking or a burglar is nearby? Who are holiday vacationers going to call? Certainly not the ghost busters.

Those with an emergency during Thanksgiving can, as usually, call for firefighters or police. Sure, the firefighters and police officers may have to drop a drumstick during a Thanksgiving dinner to save the day, but they say it’s their job.

La Cañada Flintridge and La Crescenta law enforcement officials and firefighters have to be on standby for any emergency but also try to make time to be with their families this time of the year.

“The guys are going to cook a meal and they are going to have their families come over,” said Capt. Sal Chavez, who works out of Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 82 in La Cañada.

Though Thanksgiving is a family-oriented holiday, Chavez stressed the importance of being on duty.

“Somebody has to be here. It’s kind of like the Boy Scout motto, ‘always be prepared,’” he said. “We try and make it a family holiday. We try and celebrate while we are here at work.”

Fire and police stations have to be staffed at all times since anything can happen at any given time, Chavez said.

“When it comes to police and fire, we are required to have staffing on duty 365 days a year and 24 hours a day,” he added.

Since the holiday will be celebrated through a working day the firefighters will make time for work and play.

“We try to have a fun day even though we are here to work and it’s serious. For the most part we just treat it as a holiday, you know, maybe watch some football,” the fire captain said.

“If we miss a turkey dinner because we are out on a fire, that’s OK,” Chavez added.

The deputies, detectives and jail officers at the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station will also be celebrating the holiday in their own way.

Deputies may bring in their own food for a potluck and when they have time to come in to the station they meet to have a Thanksgiving dinner, said Sgt. Don Hudalla, a watch commander at the station.

“Here at the station, it’s pretty good,” Hudalla said. “The community is pretty aware that unfortunately or fortunately we have to work on the holidays, and they thank us by bringing us food.”