In Tampa, Florida, while many families are savoring the comforts of home during Christmas, the dedicated first responders in the Tampa Bay area remain on the clock, ensuring the safety and well-being of their communities.

A visit to Tampa Fire Rescue’s Station 18 in East Tampa reveals that firefighters there spent the holiday much like any other day: poised and prepared for the unpredictable calls that could come at any moment.

The day was marked by the familiar sounds of alerts, alarms, and the rapid mobilization of emergency responses, as the team transitioned from the station to the streets.

For Driver Engineer Emilio Salabarria Jr., spending Christmas on duty is a familiar experience. With 14 years under his belt at Tampa Fire Rescue, this commitment has become a cherished family custom.

“I was on duty for my daughter’s first Christmas, and now I’m working my son’s first Christmas,” Salabarria Jr. shared. “My father, who also served in Tampa Fire, worked through my first Christmas. It’s pretty much a family tradition now,” he added.

He says the hardest part of the job isn’t the work itself.

“Helping the community is always number one, wanting to help people,” he said.

Instead, it’s being away from loved ones on major holidays.

“Unfortunately, it’s it can be brutal sometimes leaving your family at home on big holidays. But you marry a strong spouse that knows knows what they’re getting into and they can get through it,” Salabarria Jr. explained.

On Christmas Day, his wife and two children stopped by the station — a moment he says meant everything.

They were joined by fellow firefighters, their families, and even a few holiday tunes, bringing a brief sense of celebration inside the station.

Even on holidays, fire officials stress the importance of safety.

Tampa Fire Rescue Chief Barbara Tripp says celebrations can sometimes lead to dangerous decisions especially with the involvement of alcohol.

“We want the community to know if you want to celebrate, celebrate responsibly and to make sure to know that we are out here to help you. But we don’t want to come when there’s a critical situation that’s going on that could’ve been prevented,” Chief Tripp said. “We just want everyone to be safe.”

Despite missing time at home, Tripp says serving the community is exactly where her crews want to be.

“The men and women of Camp Fire Rescue believe in serving the community, and that’s why they’re here today, to let the community know that no matter what, they’re going to be here with them as well,” Tripp said.

Many of these first responders will also be working the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s holiday — a continued commitment to protecting the community, even while others ring in the new year at home.