While many families across North Texas gathered at home for Christmas, firefighters at Dallas Fire Station 27 spent the holiday on duty. As they work to protect the city, they also lean on one another as family.

” I just love being a firefighter, just spending time with my second family here,” Francisco Amaro said.

Amaro is the driver engineer for Engine 27. He’s been a firefighter for more than a decade.

Even on Christmas Day, the station remained fully staffed, with firefighters working long shifts and responding to calls as usual. Though they missed being home with loved ones, the crew created holiday traditions of their own.

“All of us would probably rather be at home with our families on Christmas Day or on Thanksgiving, things like that. But we try to have a good attitude,” Lt. Justin McKinney said.

McKinney has served the City of Dallas for nearly 14 years.

“With us being here, that means the other people that work different shifts, they get to be home with their families,” McKinney said.

Inside the station, the sounds of preparation filled the air as firefighters split wood, fired up a smoker and cooked a holiday meal together.

The menu included familiar favorites like ham, mac and cheese, and sweet potato casserole.

One firefighter made cinnamon rolls from a recipe older than the station itself.

“This is my great-grandmother’s recipe,” Holly said.

“We’re going to smoke some meat out on the smoker,” said McKinney. “We try to make it feel as traditional as possible.”

While most of us were unwrapping gifts and gathering around the table…Some Dallas crews were clocking in at one fire station, where Christmas looks a little different, but is still full of heart and familiar traditions. NBC 5’s Alicia Barrera reports.

For many firefighters, the station has become a second home. Crew members say they spend a significant portion of their lives together, relying on one another both on and off the job.

“It’s like our second family. We spend a third of our lives with these people,” McKinney said.

This Christmas, firefighters also welcomed the ones who support them most, bridging the gap between duty and home.

McKinney said the sacrifices of working holidays can be difficult, but the work remains meaningful.

“I’ve always wanted a job that was kind of bigger than me,” McKinney said. “Being there on somebody’s worst day and being able to hopefully make a difference in somebody’s life, I get a lot of value out of that.”

For some, the distance from home is felt most during the holidays. Firefighter Chad Russ said he asked for a simple Christmas gift this year. He wanted something to remind him of his family while responding to emergency calls.

“It’s just a little insert that goes into our helmet. It kind of helps me remember, stay safe, while I am away from the house, no way I can come back to them,” Russ said.

The insert features a picture of his wife Holly and their two daughters Parker and Spencer.

“When you take it off after a fire,” Russ said, “you can look at it and know you’re going to make it home to them.”

As Christmas came and went, the firefighters of Station 27 remained ready for the next call, supported by tradition, teamwork and the families who help keep them going.

LANDOVER, Md. — Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has made it known that he’ll voice his opinion when it comes to the team’s roster construction next season. He already has some thoughts.

“Find a way to keep a guy like [wide receiver] George [Pickens],” Prescott said after Thursday’s 30-23 road win over the Washington Commanders. “Find a way to keep a guy like [running back] Javonte [Williams].”

Those checklist items have been on the offseason agenda for the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones for quite some time. The value of Pickens and Williams has been discussed a lot over the course of this season. Their place on next year’s roster may not be set — and as we saw this past season, no one’s officially in the Cowboys’ future until a contract says so — but it’s now an expectation.

A new name might’ve joined that tier on Christmas Day.

Cowboys defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, in the words of head coach Brian Schottenheimer, was dominant in the win over the Commanders. Clowney finished with 1.5 sacks, marking the second time he’s had more than one sack in the last four games. Clowney now is tied with James Houston for the team-lead in sacks this season with 5.5.

“You look up and you saw 42 harassing the quarterback,” Schottenheimer said of Clowney. “You see 42 chasing down [plays].

“I just love the way the guy plays.”

It might be because Clowney, at 32 and in his 12th NFL season, is loving playing — even when there could be a reason not to.

Thursday’s game between the Cowboys and Commanders looked a lot better before the season. The Commanders were in the NFC Championship last season. The Cowboys had aspirations of a turnaround in Schottenheimer’s first season. Both teams were eliminated from playoff contention well before they kicked off at Northwest Stadium.

After Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Clowney was asked how he stays motivated with no path to the postseason. The question baffled Clowney.

“What you mean motivated? They’re paying me,” said Clowney, who signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal in September. “That’s enough motivation for me. I like money.”

On Thursday, he put his money where his mouth was. Twelve years ago, when Clowney became the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, he was known for his immense physical talent. Today, his best attribute has been his effort. There’s an evident never-quit mentality to his playing style. That’s what helped him finish with 1.5 sacks and three tackles for loss.

Clowney’s motor this season isn’t only financially driven, however.

Schottenheimer referenced something he heard Clowney tell the younger players earlier this week as they prepared to play without any playoff hope. Clowney’s message, according to Schottenheimer, was about perspective: being appreciative of how blessed they are to play in the NFL, even if it’s a game that can’t get them toward the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl. Clowney told them to never take it for granted.

That stuck out to Schottenheimer, who’s known Clowney since their time together with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019.

“When he was a younger player — he can speak to this — not that he took it for granted, but he appreciates [the game] so much more now,” Schottenheimer said.

Clowney spoke to that appreciation, too.

“A lot,” Clowney said when he was asked how much fun he’s having this season. “It’s football, man. Not everybody can do it. It’s a blessing for me to still be playing 12 years. I thank God every day for that. I have a lot of fun doing it. If I could have fun doing something else I probably would, but I have so much fun doing this I look forward to Sundays, and big games, and the spotlight, and the cameras and all that … I think it brings the best out of me.”

That’s as evident as it is contagious. Prescott said he could feel Clowney’s love for the game. Prescott said he’s seen it since the Cowboys signed Clowney on Sept. 14. He believes they’re better off with Clowney on their team moving forward.

“We’re fortunate to have him,” Prescott said. “He’s one of those guys that we’ve got to figure out a way to keep.”

Good news for the Cowboys: Clowney said he’d be interested in returning to play for Dallas if they were willing to bring him back.

“I’ve got a lot left in the tank,” Clowney said. “I’m not going to go sit on my couch. I’m going to stay ready.”

Clowney even said that he’s hoping to go to training camp, which is something he didn’t do this past year. There was excitement in his voice as he talked about shaking off rust before the season, rather than ramping up like he did this year. As the season has gone on, he’s shown why he might be deserving of that chance.

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