They were hot. On fire, one might say.
DORCHESTER
Fired up on a welcome night off
R&B, fun treat public servants
As an R&B-infused dance standard filled the air, most of the 750 firefighters, emergency medical technicians, police officers, teachers, nurses, and other public servants at last weekend's "How It Should Be Done" event hosted by 9 Alarm Productions hit the dance floor.
It was a dressy affair: Men sported suits, ties, fur coats, sunglasses, and top hats, while women wore dresses and hair in updos. During the line dance that followed, many grinned at friends seated at tables surrounding the dance floor.
Lonnie Jacks of Ladder 21 and Dana Bradley of Engine 56 came up with 9 Alarm Productions in December as a way to treat fellow firefighters and others to a night of entertainment aimed at relieving the stresses of public service without the intensity of a club atmosphere. The events also raise money for college scholarships and for a building fund so that 9 Alarm Productions eventually can have its own space for events.
"In a lot of other cities, and a lot of other states, this is nothing new," said Jacks . "So many people come to us and say that they really like what we doing." He said that sometimes public servants "work so hard; when we work 80 hours, 70 hours, things like that, we don't have enough time to take a vacation, so then to be able to come out and say . . . 'Wow. It's the best time I've had in a long time, and it means a lot to me.' "
Harry Davis, an East Boston firefighter, was one of those who came out for last weekend's event.
The mix of entertainment "puts the flavor in it," said Davis.
"It's not just strictly dancing and music. The comedian and the group break up the monotony of just having a dance party. Sometimes you want to just hear something and be entertained and not just wear yourself out dancing. So I think the mix was good."
In December, Bradley and Jacks recruited fellow firefighters Leroy Heyward from Ladder 21, Anthony Hinds from Ladder 21, Larry Hurd from Engine 32, Gino Roach from Ladder 26, and Clydies Freeman from Ladder 21. The 9 Alarm team was formed.
About 600 people attended its first event at Florian Hall on Hallet Street in January. A portion of the proceeds were donated to the Boston Society of Vulcans of Mass Inc. scholarship fund .
The Vulcans are a part of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters , and the scholarship fund is for needy families and firefighters.
That event paid for the Feb. 17 party, which raised between $12,000 and $14,000. Part of that will go toward financing the next event.
No proceeds are pocketed by 9 Alarm Productions, Jacks said.
"Partying and donating to a charitable cause puts a smile on mine and my whole team's faces," Bradley said.
"We're good at doing what we like."
Boston's Tiwa Savage opened the night with a jazz and R&B inspired set. As the crowd began to scramble around the auditorium, talking to friends and catching up, a New York-based comedian, Rasheed, whose real name is Rasheed Thurmond , took the stage.
Rasheed, 35, has appeared on Black Entertainment Television and MTV and has a coming film in which he costars with Eddie Griffin .
Rasheed had the crowd in hysterics with his raw blend of improvisation and true-to-life situational comedy. He touched on everything from relationships to cheating and freedom of speech to Jamaica. At the end of his set, before the dance party portion of the evening began, Rasheed's attention turned to the city's firefighters. "It takes a real special person to jump into a fire," he said.
"The crowd was incredible," Rasheed said after his set. "They were fired up. . . . These are the people that help people all the time. I think it's just a blessing" to be able to make them "laugh and have a good time. I love it; I'd do it any time."
The next 9 Alarm event is March 24 at the Hyatt Harborside at Boston's Logan International Airport . Organizers hope to bring out local musicians and national R&B, jazz, and neo-soul artists as well as another comedian. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by e-mailing 9alarmproductions@gmail.com or by calling 617-680-9964 and asking for Heyward.
"I had a ball," said Harry Davis , an East Boston firefighter at his first 9 Alarm event. "I'll probably be at the next one" -- if he's not working .
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
- By Matthew M. Burke, Globe Correspondent | February 25, 2007