24/7
Firefighters Naomi Kelly and Macy Gunter stand by their fire truck, ready to react to a fire alarm call at a fraternity house in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Monday, Oct. 02, 2023. Firefighters work 24-hour shifts, from 7 a.m. to 7 a.m.; at nighttime they go to bed and wake up abruptly to handle emergencies in the community. Their familiarity with the area and extensive training allows them to be prepared for any situation.
Gunter sits at the back of a fire truck as they speed towards an emergency in Chapel Hill. Firefighters communicate with each other via headsets. These late-night shifts together often leads to inside jokes and lighthearted banter among them.
Kelly serves pot roast to Lieutenant Scott Rhew as Gunter fills a glass of water at Fire Station 1. The squad often have meals, where they cook and eat together like a family. Building trust and community within their small squad creates a more efficient team to tackle emergency situations.
Kelly, Rhew, and Gunter sit on recliners while watching TV in the living room after coming back from an emergency call. In between calls, firefighters relax in various ways, including hanging out with each other or going to bed before waking up for their next emergency.
Firefighter Riggs Long puts on his gear outside the fire truck in response to an emergency call at 9:21 PM. Their uniform, weighing up to 80 lbs, must be worn before firefighters get on the truck.
Riggs forcefully breaches a door to access the medical emergency inside a patient's home at 9:27 PM in Chapel Hill, N.C. Resorting to extreme measures is sometimes necessary to reach the patient in time.
Riggs walks up their stairs as local police and paramedics stand-by outside of the patient’s home. During critical moments of medical emergencies, all three services arrive at the scene, working collaboratively to provide the necessary assistance to the patient.
Gunter retrieves a firefighter hat off the fire truck as they respond to an emergency. The continuous cycle of firefighters departing from the fire station and responding to various emergencies is a testament to their unwavering dedication and readiness to help the community.