Arizona firefighters had 19 babies in one year—and they built the ultimate dad support group

Between fire drills and diaper duty, Chandler firefighters are navigating two of life’s most intense roles: first responders and first-time dads. In 2024, the Chandler fire department welcomed 19 new babies into their growing firefighter family, marking a year filled with late-night calls—both at the station and in the nursery.

With nearly 250 members in the department, almost 10% of Chandler’s firefighters became dads this year, creating an unexpected parenting village among the team. What started as a casual observation from firefighter Jack Bernard’s fiancée soon turned into a heartwarming tradition: a baby photo shoot celebrating this special chapter in their lives.

“Lexi had actually pointed out that a lot of guys in the department were having babies,” Bernard shared with Good Morning America. “My colleague Christopher Morales and I help run our department’s social media page, so we took Lexi’s idea and ran with it. It turned out to be a lot more special than we could have imagined.”

From firefighting to fatherhood

The Chandler Fire Department shared the moment in a touching Instagram post, captioned: “From fighting fires to changing diapers! 19 Chandler Firefighters welcomed babies in 2024 (four not pictured). See the sweet moments in our last Reel.” The post included touching photos of the firefighters proudly holding their babies, capturing the beautiful blend of dedication to their community and their growing families.

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Reflecting on the significance of the experience, Bernard shared, “To be outside of work and all get to go through something really incredible together, it’s just really special.”

For many of these dads, fatherhood has strengthened their already tight-knit bonds. With so many babies arriving in the same year, the firefighters even started a group chat to swap parenting tips, share sleepless night stories, and lean on each other during this new chapter.

“Everyone comes from different backgrounds and has different experiences, so it’s really easy to find somebody at work that’s gone through something that you’re trying to figure out, like parenthood,” Bernard explained to GMA. “We shared laughs over the sleepless nights and exchanged tips—that kind of support means a lot.”

Related: Kansas City dad who became a doula is inspiring other dads to ‘step up’ during childbirth

A growing family

Blas Minor, the department’s chief of public relations, shared that celebrating 19 births in one year has only strengthened the sense of community within the department.

“It’s something that the wives and dads can share at work when they’re out doing things together,” Minor told GMA. “They can bounce things off one another, especially those who are first-time parents.”

Bernard’s fiancée, Lexi, shared that the unexpected dad support group has made a difference for the firefighter families. “Knowing that our partners have a built-in support system at work makes things so much easier at home. We’re all adjusting to parenthood together, and that’s been really special.”

In his 24 years with the department, Minor said he has never seen a baby boom like this before, though he’s heard of similar stories in other firehouses around the country. With senior members retiring and new firefighters joining the team, he expects Chandler’s firefighter family to continue growing—in more ways than one.

Related: ‘You kept me calm’: Michigan mom delivers baby in ambulance with help from heroic first responders

How to find your own parenting village

While this baby boom is unique to Chandler, the experience of finding community in unexpected places is something many parents can relate to. Whether it’s a group chat, a workplace support system, or just knowing someone else is up at 3 AM rocking a fussy baby, the bond of parenthood is universal.

If you’re looking to build your own parenting village, here are a few ideas:

• Look for local parent groups on social media or through community centers.
• Lean on your workplace community—you might be surprised how many coworkers are going through the same things.
• Create your own group chat with fellow parents to swap advice, share laughs, and offer support.

And as for next year? The firefighters are already looking forward to another department-wide baby photo shoot in 2025.

Have you found support in an unexpected place as a new parent? Share your experience with us on Motherly’s TikTok or Instagram!