Captain Daniel Chandler oversees a lot at the Fort Myers Fire Department. He doesn't overlook the friendships that form quite easily.
"There's not many lines that you can't cross. If we find out something bothers you, we're just going to pick that scab even harder. It's all in love," said Chandler.
Camaraderie is only natural when working 24-hour shifts, including on Thanksgiving day.
"This year, we work Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. Luck of the draw, but it's alright," said Chandler.
A good sense of humor helps when preparing meals meant to be spent with family.
"It's one of Tanner's specialties here," said Chandler. "We'll do smash burgers a lot."
"Kinda like Five Guys," said Tanner. "I try to go for that."
Alfonzo Churchwell is the self-proclaimed rookie of the crew.
"I thought I was going to the NFL, but I didn't grow anymore," said Churchwell. "Being a firefighter. That's what God took me to."
Churchwell sees holidays as an opportunity for seconds. "My mom. My sisters. My siblings. They bring me a plate of food that they cooked. So I have a little bit of this food and a little bit of that."
While these firefighters won't be home for Thanksgiving dinner this year, they feel like family, after all.
"We're all here because we're helpers. We like to help," said Chandler. "You become pretty close with everybody, so yeah, it's just fun."