While families celebrated Thanksgiving on Thursday, many firefighters were still hard at work protecting the community. 

Firefighters with the Bakersfield Fire Department told 23ABC while it is hard to be away from family on holidays, they are thankful they have a second family at the station. 

"We have two families, we have our families at home and then we have our fire family. We get to spend time with our brothers and sisters here and at the same time it is a definite perk because we get to spend time with the community we serve," said Matthew Perry, BFD Battalion Chief. 

BFD firefighters also shared the many things they are thankful for this Thanksgiving.