Full House: Arizona Fire Department Welcomes 19 Babies in 2024

An Arizona fire department’s ranks grew by nearly 10% last year after firefighters welcomed 19 babies into the world.

“There’s just something in the water in Chandler, [Arizona],” new dad Jack Bernard told local news, holding his seventh-month-old daughter, Jersey.

Jersey is one of thirteen girls and six boys born to the Chandler Fire Department in 2024. Veteran firefighter Penni Cyrus’ son, Kade, leads the pack at 11 months old. The youngest is only three weeks. One lucky family welcomed twin boys.

 “[We’re] bringing more firefighters into the world,” Cyrus joked.

The Department managed to gather all but three of the growing families for a New Year’s photoshoot last week.

Battalion Chief Bias Minor believes they will keep the pictures for years to come.

“I think it’s going to be something special the kids and parents are going to cherish for the rest of their lives,” Minor said in a social media post.

Donaldo Lopez and his wife were particularly excited to welcome Dorothy, their fifth child, into the world last year.

“This is my second rainbow baby,” Lopez explained, referring to a baby born after a family loses a pre-born child. “So it’s a big deal for my wife and I.”

The 18-year Chandler veteran makes no bones about it — his marriage makes parenting possible.

“The most important thing about being a parent is having a good partner,” Lopez told news crews. “Lucky for me, she doesn’t like sleeping, I guess — so we just kept having kids!”

God created humans to live in relationship with one another and create new life. This design is no more evident than in the videos of Chandler firefighters taking time to show off their families.

You just can’t help but crack a smile.