Firefighters usually put out fires, not start them.
Yet some of them are heating up the pages of the 2005 South Florida Firefighter's Calendar, being unveiled tonight in South Beach.
"It's sexy ... but it's not vulgar or tasteless. It's firefighters without shirts on," said Lt. Luis Espinosa of the Hialeah Fire-Rescue, who started the calendar 14 years ago. "Our goal is try to raise as much money as possible for local charities."
The money goes to Here's Help, a drug treatment center for teens in Opa-locka, and CBS-4 Neighbors for Neighbors, a community aid group. Since 1992, $142,245 has been raised for local charities, Espinosa said.
At 9 tonight, firefighters will officially release the $15 calendar by strutting their stuff during a fashion show at State Lounge, 320 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach.
At 9 p.m. Friday, the men will be at Round Up, a country-western bar at 9020 W. State Road 84, Davie. They'll be at the Aventura Mall from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and the Boca Town Center Mall, 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
In all, they plan 30 appearances through the end of the year.
While the firefighters will sign the calendars in person at these events, those who can't attend can order personalized autographed calendars on the Internet for $25.
About 50 firefighters were calendar contenders, but only 15 were chosen. One got the cover, 12 were designated months and two are in bonus pictures. There is also one picture of three firefighters from last year's calendar.
Miramar Fire-Rescue's Manny Garcia is Mr. January.
His photo features him in front of a rescue boat at a lake in Miramar. To prepare, he did push-ups and then spread oil on his skin so it would glisten.
"This is a goal I really wanted to achieve, and it helps out charity," said Garcia, 27. "I changed my whole workout, and did more cardio instead of heavier weights for a more lean physique."
Palm Beach County firefighter Pete Ramos has not told his co-workers that he's Mr. August.
"I'm just too embarrassed," said Ramos, 37, who sits in the cab of a fire engine for his photo. "This is all for charity, and that is what's important."
It was his wife, Bibi, who encouraged him.
"He kept saying that `the guys will bug me,' but I kept saying it's for charity, and when you turn 50 you can show the kids how great you looked," said Bibi Ramos. "I saw his picture and said, `Wow, that's my husband; he's hot.' I mean, I know he's handsome, but you don't see it every day and I saw the picture and said, `I can't believe that's my husband.'"
Said Espinosa of the finished product, "This is my favorite calendar. I really like the way the cover came out and the images inside are great and the photographers did a really good job."
For a list of events or to order a calendar, go to www.firefighterscalendar.com.
