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Pin Up Firefighting's 'Hottest Heroes'

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By LOIS KINDLE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 12, 2007

Updated: 09/10/2007 05:55 pm

RUSKIN - Hillsborough County firefighters are a tough lot who routinely risk their lives to save the lives and property of others. But they're also a playful group, who love nothing more than busting each other's chops.

So when the opportunity arose earlier this year to compete for a spot on the 2008-09 Hottest Heroes Calendar, 25 of the county's finest - from ages 22 to 55 - showed up at an Ybor City contest to raise money and collect votes.

More than 600 people pulled out their wallets as bare-chested firemen carrying boots strutted their stuff to solicit contributions - all on behalf of the Hillsborough County Firefighters Charities' Widows and Children Fund.

When the votes were tallied, $14,000 had been raised and 19 firefighters became calendar finalists.

'If you know anything about firefighters, you know they love giving each other a hard time,' said finalist Matt Saracino, a fire medic who serves at Ruskin's Station No. 17. 'I'm already getting flack from my brothers other firemen, but it's great for the charity and something to laugh about when I'm older.'

Two other South Shore firefighters made the cut - Michael Guy and Shawn Symonds, who both work out of Summerfield's Station No. 3.

'I was a little embarrassed to be chosen, but I was glad to help out,' Symonds said.

Guy agreed.

'We went out to have a good time and support out brothers,' he said. 'I was shocked when I was picked.'

Once the finalists were determined, organizer Lisa McCorkle of East Bay Insurance in Apollo Beach met with photographer Michael Heape and arranged for photo sessions.

'During a six-week period between June and July, around 1,000 photos were shot,' McCorkle said, adding locations included Tampa's firefighter training grounds, Bank of America building and the SS American Victory ship.

'We looked online at other firemen calendars and found they don't depict what firefighters really do,' she said. 'We wanted to get away from the pretty shots. Firemen get dirty and sweaty as part of the job.'
McCorkle said she and Heape reviewed the photographs and narrowed them down to the 19 that would appear in the 18-month calendar and its cover.

Guy is featured as January, Symonds is June and Saracino is April 2009.

Proceeds from the sale of the calendars will go toward prepaid college tuition for the children of firefighters who die in the line of duty or as a result of a duty-related illness or injury.

The fund also provides COBRA health care payments for one year from the time of death to the firefighter's surviving spouse and children, financial assistance and support to families who suffer a death or catastrophic injury in the immediate family that causes severe financial hardship, and several other benefits.

HOTTEST HEROES CALENDAR PREVIEW

WHERE: Banana Joe's, 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa

WHEN: 6 p.m. Sept. 22

ADMISSION: $10

FEATURES: The 19 Hillsborough County firefighters in the calendar

CALENDAR COST: $20

INFORMATION: www.hcffcharities.com

MEET THE MODELS

Matt Saracino

AGE: 29

JOB: Fire medic, 3 years

PERSONAL: Single, but has a girlfriend; lives in Bloomingdale

STATION: No. 17, Ruskin
Shawn Symonds
AGE: 32

What: Fire medic, 4 1/2 years

PERSONAL: Single, lives in Lutz

STATION: No. 3, Summerfield

Michael Guy

AGE: 32

JOB: Fire medic III, 8 years

PERSONAL: Married, two children, lives in Lutz

STATION: No. 3, Summerfield

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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