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The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Firefighters Turn Up the Heat for 2011 Calendar

By DNAinfo Staff on December 30, 2010 7:02pm

By Jennifer Glickel

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MIDTOWN EAST — A handful of smokin' hot firemen signed half-naked photos of themselves for giggling women on Wednesday night to promote the 2011 FDNY calendar.

Although this year's edition was not officially produced by the FDNY, it featured a dozen official firefighters in some very unofficial photographs, which were staged and shot on Coney Island.

"A lot of these guys aren't experienced with taking photos, but they did really well," said the calendar's photographer, Alan Battman.

The various firemen-turned-models represented fire houses from throughout the five boroughs, with a solid showing of some of Manhattan's bravest. Firefighters from Harlem, TriBeCa, and Chelsea all bared their bodies for the calendar.

Battman found the 12 brawniest of New York's bravest through word of mouth, which was apparently not very hard to do.

"Anyone who wants to participate can participate, I don't turn anyone away," Battman told DNAinfo. "And somehow all the ones who want to participate turn out to be in great shape."

All of the firefighting beefcakes at Wednesday's event agreed that they enjoyed their experience shooting for the calendar.

"When I'm old have kids and I'm fat, it's something I can show my kids and say, 'Look! That was Daddy when he was young and in shape,'" said Anthony Abbatemanco, a firefighter from Engine 80 in Harlem.

"It's really cool to get recognized by people for being in the calendar ... well, mostly just friends of friends and stuff, but it's still cool."

"I had such a fun time with the shoot and since the calendar has been published," Abbatemanco added.

Proceeds from the evening's event will go to benefit the FDNY Foundation, which is the city organization's charitable arm.

Some of the poster boys were more shy about their involvement, like Greg Visco from Engine 309 in Brookyln.

"The whole thing is kind of silly and far out there," Visco said. "It's not my thing, but I had fun doing it and I'm very, very humbled by the experience."