El Paso first responders maintain Christmas spirit while working through the holiday

El Paso, TEXAS

While Christmas means vacations and time off from work for millions of Americans, it is another day of hard work and vigilance for first responders all across the country and around the Borderland.

“I am happy with the job I am doing and it is like a calling to me," said station 22 firefighter Andres Ortega. "It never stops. Just because it is a holiday, people still need help.”

Inside the firehouse they decorated the tree with candy canes and trucks. Meanwhile, there was a beautiful slab of Christmas beef out on the burner.

Lunch was about to served until it was interrupted by an alarm and a call for help.

“It is a challenge but moral is high in the fire department," said El Paso Fire Department Battalion Chief Carlos Calvillo.

Fortunately, it was just a minor emergency and the team was soon seated again with forks at the ready and a treasure trove of sweets dropped off by a grateful community.

And since many of their Christmas related emergency calls that do come through involve drunk driving incidents, the crew of house 22 are asking that you be especially careful with your decision to drive during the holidays, especially when alcohol gets involved.

Meanwhile, other fire houses spent the day taking part in special outreach activities like at the Fabens Volunteer Fire Department where they sent a truck out through those neighborhoods with a Santa on top, waving to dozens of children as they come running out of their homes to greet old Saint Nick.