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Las Vegas firefighter Chris Stiles bares his abs for a national fireman's charity calendar
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Courtesy Of On Point Publishing
Chris Stiles, of Las Vegas Firefighters Local 1285, poses for his October spot in the first-ever national firemen's calendar. Sales from Nation's Bravest will benefit Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation, among other charities.
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Duane Prokop/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Chris Stiles sits on the front of an engine at Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Station 4. He is one of 12 men across the country to be featured in the first-ever national fireman's calendar. » Buy this photo
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Courtesy Of On Point Publishing
Chris Stiles of Las Vegas Firefighters Local 1285 poses for his October spot in the first-ever national fireman's calendar. Sales of Nation's Bravest: Firefighters Unite will benefit charities chosen by each firefighter. Stiles chose the Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation, which helps burn victims and their families.
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Duane Prokop/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Firefighter Chris Stiles checks equipment on an ambulance at Las Vegas Fire Department Station 4 on Thursday. Stiles is one of 12 men selected to be in a national fireman's calendar. » Buy this photo
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Courtesy Of On Point Publishing
Firefighter Chris Stiles, an avid mountain biker, has worked with a local burn foundation and volunteered as a counselor at a camp for young burn victims.
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Little old ladies love Las Vegas fireman Chris Stiles, who has been known to bring in their mail or put away groceries after helping them up from a fall.
But next year, it's safe to say the 26-year-old will have a new flock of women calling themselves his fans -- and not just for his good deeds.
The Las Vegas native stripped down to his bunker pants, showing off his perfectly sculpted abs for the first-ever national fireman's calendar.
Nation's Bravest: Firefighters Unite selected 12 men not only for their chiseled midsections, but for their personalities and extracurricular activities, publisher Katherine Kostreva said.
Each of the firefighters has his own story, she said: Mr. New Orleans was part of rescue efforts after Hurricane Katrina, and Mr. Minneapolis helped after the I-35W bridge collapse.
"I thought that was incredible. It makes the project truly about the nation's bravest," Kostreva said.
The calendar supports charities of each fireman's choosing, including Mr. Las Vegas' selection, the Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation.
The foundation helps burn victims and their families. Stiles said he chose the nonprofit after working with the organization at toy drives and bachelor auctions over the years. He volunteered as a counselor in July for San Diego-based Camp Beyond the Scars, which the burn foundation helps support.
"It was life-changing," Stiles said of the experience. "We complain about little crap in our daily lives, and then you see kids with severe physical ailments just happy to be alive."
Stiles also is a volunteer with the Las Vegas Firefighters Local 1285 honor guard, which commemorates those who die in the line of duty. At funeral processions or other events, Stiles plays the tenor drum or carries the ax -- noting that's "the little guy's job."
Stiles joined Las Vegas Fire and Rescue six years ago, and he hopes to become a paramedic. The Durango High graduate represents firefighters Local 1285 in the calendar.
"I think it's really nice that he's so involved," Kostreva said. "He has a great attitude."
Stiles' easy-going nature is a must, he said, especially because he's one of the youngest and definitely the shortest on the squad.
"We get to make fun of him. I've helped him reach the hose," joked firefighter-paramedic Matt Ongman, who has known Stiles for 10 years and worked with him for six.
"He's the little guy. But he's also hardworking and dedicated," Ongman said.
Stiles, who is 5 feet 5 inches tall (in his boots), calls the taunting part of firehouse life. The calendar probably will bring even more heckling, he said, laughing, but that's because the other firemen will be jealous.
And ladies, don't worry, his crew's prediction that Stiles will hold the slot for February, the shortest month, is a tease -- the shirtless Mr. Las Vegas will be on display for all 31 days in October.
Contact Jessica Fryman at jfryman@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4535.
It wasn't a problem for Las Vegas firefighter Chris Stiles to bare his chest for charity in the first-ever national fireman's calendar. His department and union supported him.
But the calendar sparked controversy in Philadelphia, where firefighter Jack Slivinski committed suicide shortly after being reprimanded for a photo shoot with beefcake charity calendar Nation's Bravest.
Slivinski received permission from his union to participate in the calendar, which will support the Local 22's Widows Fund and 11 other charities across the nation. Unlike in other cities where union presidents notified department administration, that didn't happen in Philadelphia. Department officials reassigned Slivinski from his post on an elite rescue squad for "unbecoming conduct," said Katherine Kostreva, the calendar's publisher.
Although his position was reinstated because of the public outcry, Slivinski suffered from depression and killed himself June 25, shortly after the controversy erupted, Kostreva said.
"A lot of firefighters suffer from depression," said Kostreva, who dedicated the 2012 calendar to Slivinski. "It is not uncommon that they commit suicide.
"To me, whether they fall from suicide or in the line of duty, it's all the same: They're heroes who have fallen."
Kostreva said she did not run into problems in the 11 other cities featured in the calendar.
Jeff Rogers, captain of Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Station 4, said the department has no problem with a shirtless Stiles in the calendar, which will benefit the Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation and other charities.
The foundation sponsors bachelor auctions or sells local calendars to raise money, he said, admitting he was part of one 10 years ago.
"It's something that the department supports as long as you act appropriately," Rogers said. "As far as I know, everybody is totally in support" of Stiles.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
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Rick.Baal-Transparent Nevada says FF Stiles earned a Base Pay of $63,485.06. He cannot be slandered by the uninformed, just because he earns overtime pay, and has medical benefits. He and all Fire Fighters should be honored and revered for their selflessness and bravery. Like teachers, nurses, social workers and scores of other American workers, Fire Fighters are underpaid and undervalued. Rest assured, Sir, that despite your vitriol, should you become trapped in your burning house or vehicle, the honorable and brave FIRE FIGHTERS shall be there to help you!
To Larry David-Thank God, YOU are not a Fire Fighter.
To Private Sector Pete-Check your work before you hit "send" so that your innate intellectual ability may then be visible on the page as other than dribble.
To DLW – didn’t your parents teach you the Golden Rule? No one is calling you a homophobic moron are they?
To 226.h -"And yes there is no price on saving a life but they seldom do." Be grateful you do not need a rescue. But if you ever do, a trained professional will be there to save you monkey, bachelor's degreed self, from harm. Braggadaccio is unflattering.
It's common knowledge that any government employee's salary is out there and easy to find. However, if one feels the need to post it here (which is irrelevant to this article) then do it accurately. This is an excellent, well written article about a giving and caring young man. Why would anyone want to post negative comments? This calendar is being put together for charity and featuring some pretty cool guys across our great country too. These guys put their lives on the line for us and I could give a crap if they need a degree or not, or if they spend time in the gym to stay in shape. I have called 911 when my home was on fire and thank God for them. When my nephew was in a horrific accident, if it wasn't for those great, fast thinking, medically trained, calm firefighters, he wouldn't be here today. I am thankful everyday for them. So like the other poster said, if and when you negative people are ever in trouble, call a friend, not 911. You rock, Chris!!
Hello Private Sector Pete,
I see you comments follow every story about the firefighters. Once again, I hope you find a career and fill the gap in your life. I will pray for you once again. For everyone else, I'm not a FF but a regular person who believes any public employee who abuses the system should be fired and every job will have some "bad apples". I also know not all FFs are bad but PSP seems to have an opinion and its his right althought his posts are jr high in nature! PSP, I'll pray for you tonight that you find that job and woman to make you happy. God Bless!
...,,PRIVATR SECTOR PETE..... Anyone can through around stats as fact as you do. Where is your frame of referance. where did you get the 40% are mormon? or less tham 8 % have degrees. Please tell all of us where we can look to find these facts.
OMG, all you John Q. Public people, I totally agree with Firefiighters Dad, I don't know you but know that this is wonderful family, Chris began this firefighters journey long before many young people think about who they will invite to homecomming. He started in his firefighting journey when he was still in high school. He took special classes at the famililes expense and went beyond the call of duty to insure that he would become the best of the best in our fine state of Nevada. He did all this with the help of his family and his determination to become one of the best to represent Las Vegas Firefighters in everything that represents. His ONLY cause for this awesome calendar is to raise money to a CHARITY ... HELLO...CHARITY LAS VEGAS to benfit the BURN CENTER of CHILDREN in Southern Nevada. I pray that if you ever need to call for help in a fire or a fire related incident that you think of this brave young man and the others who are there at any given time to protect you and your family. BY THE WAY YOU MORANS WHO THINK THAT ALL THESE INTERVIEWS, PHOTO SHOOTS AND MEDIA INTERVIEWS WERE PAID BY YOUR TAXPAYERS DOLLARS????? WRONG, EVERYTHING WAS DONE ON CHRIS'S DAYS OFF!!!! Sorry to put shame on all you who just want to paint our wonderful firefighters who are honest and play by the rules and do go beyond the boundries to save our lives and the lives of others, Chris and the rest of the Firefighters ROCK, I'm glad they will be there if I ever need them. Come on Las Vegas people, get real, these fine people save lives every day!!!! If you still have reservations? DON'T, PLEASE DON'T CALL 911 call your friends, maybe you will survive and with out burns but I truly don't think you will, afterall Chirs and the rest of all our fine Firefighters are all trained professionals.
"Each of the firefighters has his own story, she said: Mr. New Orleans was part of rescue efforts after Hurricane Katrina, and Mr. Minneapolis helped after the I-35W bridge collapse."
Not to take anything away from what these firefighters did. I'm very much pro-public servants, and I'm sure these men went above-and-beyond. But, ummmmmm... isn't responding to events such as those part of their job? They do get paid for that, among other things, correct?
If there was an opening today, for say the public employees union CCFD, for say 10 "Firefighters" positions, the line would be at least 10,000 to 15,000 deep, many with 4 year college degrees or higher. The current CCFD is full of over-paid, over- benefited, under-educated, "juiced-in", lazy, crooked, slimy, underworked and CCFD is also full of Mormans (approximately 40% of the total, some who live in Utah), less than 8% have college degrees, minority groups and "juiced-in" thugs due to relationships (father, uncle, grandfather, cousin, neighbors, Mormons, girl/boy frends, union relationships, etc). Guess why a male Clark County School District High School Vice Principal with approximately 15 years CCSD experience and 2 masters degrees, quit and join the fire department as a basic fireperson, a position requiring only a GED educational level...Obvious Answer: $$$$, retire at 48, $180,000 annual pay, easy life, annual pension in 6 figures at age 48 plus healthcare for life, Costco, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Albertsons shopping during working hours, Gold's Gym weight lifting during working hours, union protection for just about any kind of wrong-doing, tons and tons of overtime, self described "Hero" status, great benfits, ability to cheat with the union sick time systems for huge money annually, etc, etc, etc. Firefighters get no respect in Clark County from the knowledgable public..why should they when they gaming the system for HUGE $$$$ over and over again with the "firethug" union protecting them? Shame, Shame, Shame!!!
I can't even believe how many of you have negative things to say about this. I thank God that I had Firefighters from station 14 show up to my house on November 18, 2002. Being burned is a horable thing to go through and if this firefighter is willing to go help these victums then he is twice the man any of you complainers and haters will ever be! I pray that God touches and changes your veiws on this matter. Thank you Chris from the bottom of my heart. May God continue to Bless you and all the others who put their lives on the line for all of us.
Chris, I want to thank you for your hard work, willingness to give to others, and your dedication. The 6 years of extensive training and studying you did, really paid off. You are a true hero and deserve it all. Congratulations! Everyone should be grateful that you will be there in their time of need.
WoW! May we say G-A-Y!