Valpo firefighter a calendar girl

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

VALPARAISO — Firefighter/paramedic Stephanie Hart has never been one for beauty pageants.

So after years of having people suggest she apply for America’s Female Firefighter’s annual calendar to raise money for burn victims, she remained hesitant— even though the cause is one of her passions.

“I had everything ready to go, and I kind of hemmed and hawed, and I held on to the application until the last day,” Hart said. “I’m used to being pretty invisible, and definitely being in the spotlight is awkward.”

However, the Calumet City native got the application, video, photos and recommendation letters in to officials.

Along with those, she also got permission from her superiors and from the union, and in February, she got word.

“I was quite surprised and honored that they chose me,” Hart said. “There are so many worthy female firefighters in the nation, and I’m just one of a growing population.”

The shoot on Monday was hectic.

She’d been back to work one day after spending Memorial Day week as a counselor at Hoosier Burn Camp, a retreat for kids who’ve suffered burns near Lafayette.

Power was out in her Cedar Lake home from the storms, so she had to wash clothes and shower at her parents’ and catch a plane to the Florida shooting.

She flew back on Tuesday and was back to work.

“It was beautiful the time I was there,” Hart said. “It was fun; I was nervous.”

They guided the women through, and she is anxious to see in August what photo of her they chose.

Her husband John, a firefighter in East Chicago where she worked before coming to Valparaiso three years ago, is more excited about it than she is, she said.

Hart’s supervisor, Capt. Chris Jensen, said the department supports her doing this for burn victims because helping people is why they’re there.

“If she’s willing to do it, the department and guys are behind her,” Jensen said.

Hart has no aspirations to model.

“The fire station is my reality,” she said.

Hart said her advice is for someone to apply like she did, both for the modeling and for the burn camp counselor position she didn’t think she would get.

“Sometimes you might surprise yourself, what you might end up doing — and what do you have to lose?”