By Elizabeth O’Brien
Volume 17 • Issue 9 / July 23 – 29, 2004
Downtown’s firefighting hunks
Call them the Buffest.
Three firefighters from the Ten House on Liberty St. made the cut for the 2005 F.D.N.Y. calendar, a showcase of Bravest beefcake to benefit the F.D.N.Y. Fire Safety Education Fund.
“I figured I had the body, so why not do it?” said Frank Sansonetti, 26, of Ladder 10.
The single Staten Islander does not leave his physique to chance. He works out regularly in addition to the rigors of the job, which often involves carrying 100 pounds of equipment.
Chris Martucci also puts in plenty of gym time. Martucci, of Ladder 10, chose to appear on the August page because, he joked, “it’s the hottest month.”
Besides, Martucci said, it’s for a good cause. The Fire Safety Education Fund supports the mission of the Fire Department through a variety of programs to raise fire prevention awareness.
“Prevention is really what it’s all about,” said Martucci, 30, who is single and lives on Staten Island.
For their efforts, the Ten House calendar guys have endured much ribbing from their peers. Co-workers have scrawled “pretty boy” on their lockers and thrown darts at their images.
“Thanks for giving me more ammunition,” one joked to a reporter.
The other Ten House member to pose for the calendar, Bundy Chung of Engine 10, was not at the firehouse when Downtown Express visited.
Women of Lower Manhattan, count your blessings: five of the 13 calendar hotties hail from the area. Louis Larossa of Engine 7 in Tribeca and James Gavin of Ladder 15 near the South Street Seaport were also selected out of a pool of 100 aspiring models.
Why such heat south of Canal St.?
“I guess no one else went out for the calendar,” Martucci said modestly.
The calendar costs $14.99 and can be purchased at https://www.fdnyfirezone.org.
Calendar aside, all firefighters serving across from ground zero get lots of attention. On a recent sunny afternoon, Ten House members posed for pictures with a steady stream of tourists, some of whom recalled the events of 9/11.
This kind of interaction takes its toll, firefighters admitted.
“Their gestures are nice, but sometimes we don’t have enough energy for it,” Martucci said. But he was quick to add, “People are always welcome to the firehouse.”
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