Dallas, TX
Firefighters on duty this Christmas create special traditions
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.
DALLAS – Dallas police arrested a man for murder after they say he shot a couple he met through an online dating app.
What we know:
Investigators say 26-year-old Noah Trueba shot and killed a 57-year-old woman on Friday morning in Northwest Dallas. Dallas Fire-Rescue responded and pronounced one of the individuals, 57-year-old Guadalupe Gonzalez, dead at the scene.
The second victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
According to an affidavit, Trueba drank and used drugs with the two, who called themselves husband and wife. Trueba later told police that the couple tried to sexually assault him, so he opened fire.
A police drone located him hiding along a nearby highway, after he ran from the scene.
What’s next:
Trueba was arrested at the scene. He is currently booked in the Dallas County Jail and being charged with murder.
This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Brewster Billings at 214-671-3083 or at brewster.billings@dallaspolice.gov.
The Source: Information in this article was provided from documents provided by the Dallas Police Department.
Sunday was another frustrating game for Dallas Cowboys fans who had to watch the secondary miss one tackle after another against the New York Giants.
In addition to the poor angles and inability to wrap up, the defensive backs couldn’t consistently stop an aerial attack that was without their top two players. That sums up the season for the Dallas defense, which is why Matt Eberflus being relieved of his duties feels like a foregone conclusion.
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From there, the question turns to who will replace Eberflus. While there’s no shortage of options available, here’s a look at some of the top candidates if Dallas made fixing the secondary their primary goal.
Daniel Bullocks, DB Coach/Pass Game Specialist, San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have one of the most impressive coaching trees. While Robert Saleh didn’t excel as a head coach, he returned to his role as defensive coordinator and continued to excel. They’ve also seen DeMeco Ryans do an extraordinary job in Houston as a head coach, with a staff loaded with former 49ers assistants.
That’s why looking at their staff is a wise move. One name to consider is Daniel Bullocks, who has been an assistant with San Francisco since 2017. He currently serves as the safeties coach and pass game specialist. While they haven’t been elite this year, his unit is usually among the best in the NFL.
Aubrey Pleasant, Assistant Head Coach/Pass Game Coordinator, Los Angeles Rams
Aubrey Pleasant has been a name to watch for years, even interviewing for multiple defensive coordinator vacancies. He’s been with the Los Angeles Rams since 2023, and was promoted to assistant head coach in 2024.
Cory Undlin, Pass Game Coordinator, Houston Texans
DeMeco Ryans was mentioned earlier as a great coach to come out of San Francisco. One assistant he brought along with him is Cory Undlin, who has been a pass game specialist for the 49ers (2021-2022) and now the Houston Texans (2023-present).
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Houston has a vicious defense led by hard-hitting safeties and physical cornerbacks. Undlin deserves credit for helping develop their young talent and could help Dallas get back on track in the secondary.
Al Harris, Pass Game Coordinator/DB Coach, Chicago Bears
Everyone who follows the Cowboys knows, and loves, Al Harris. He was part of Dan Quinn’s defensive staff and was credited for developing ballhawks such as Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland.
Harris left this offseason and while the Cowboys fell apart, the Chicago Bears began to generate turnovers at a high rate. We’ve seen enough to know Harris should have been kept.
Raheem Morris, Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons
Raheem Morris was fired after two seasons as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad coach. Morris remains one of the more well-respected defensive minds in the NFL, even winning the Super Bowl in 2021 as the Rams’ defensive coordinator. That was his second Super Bowl ring, as Morris earned one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the 2002 season. That year, he was a defensive quality control coach for Jon Gruden.
Morris excels at coaching defensive backs and brings extensive experience to the table. He may be exactly the kind of hire Jerry Jones would feel comfortable making, and one Cowboys fans could believe in.
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The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up their 2025 season on Sunday and will now turn all of their attention to offseason work in the name of not finding themselves out of the playoffs this time next year. Obviously that is much easier said than done.
This upcoming offseason is one of the most important and critical in recent Cowboys history as they have multiple first-round draft picks for the first time since 2008. With the Cowboys now officially done for the season, we know where they will be picking come the 2026 NFL Draft.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft order
Here are the first 12 picks of the draft, through the Cowboys selection at number 12 overall, courtesy of Tankathon.
If all of this sounds familiar it is because it is… the Cowboys held the 12th overall pick last year and used it to select Tyler Booker. They also used it in 2021 to select Micah Parsons, more on him in a moment, although they picked it up after trading back two spots. For what it’s worth the Detroit Lions held the pick in consecutive seasons beginning the year after and landed Jameson Williams and Jahmyr Gibbs, so hopefully that type of success is what the Cowboys find.
While we know where the Cowboys are picking, it is still unknown exactly where their other first-round pick will land. Dallas holds Green Bay’s selection in the 2026 NFL Draft and the Packers are currently set to visit the Chicago Bears in the Wild Card Round which means we are all rooting for Chicago to take care of business.
Updated rundown of Cowboys Draft Picks
Keep in mind that Dallas has also already dealt away 2026 draft capital as well.
The Cowboys are projected to receive a couple of compensatory picks as well, potentially in the fifth-round, but those are not fully known at this time.
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