07/08/2025
🧑🚒 Honoring the Courage Behind the Flame 🔥
Recently, some VERY incorrect, bad press came about relating to my home fire station, Delaware City Fire Company. This was in relation to a delayed response by Delaware City, to a mobile home fire in the cities mobile home development. Well, the fact of the matter is, we were assisting another fire company on a separate incident, south of the canal. Fire companies in the state run mutual aid for residential fires, and DCFC was dispatched out of town, just prior to the mobile home fire in our city. Fortunately, Christiana Fire was passing through Delaware City and was able to quickly respond and extinguish the fire.
This post is a dedication to our firefighters, my brothers and sisters who answer the call day in and day out. We are reminded that true bravery doesn’t wait for the perfect moment - it answers the call, day or night, holiday or not, and wherever it may be.
🖼️ Featured here are two 16x20 portraits, digitally hand painted using digital art brushes, capturing that very spirit, dedication and bravery. Ironically, one portrays a Wilmington and Christiana Fire Legend, while the other highlights a mutual aid response by Delaware City, to Odessa local, assisting with a large 2 alarm townhouse fire in Bayberry North on New Years Eve:
🚒 Battalion Chief Al Huelsenbeck, currently serving Christiana Fire as Battalion 12, and formerly a Deputy Chief of Wilmington City Fire Department. A lifetime of service, leadership, and grit—Al continues to embody the soul of the fire service with every call. This portrait is a mix of seriousness and humor. You'll likely never see Al without a cigar, yet on scene he's as cool as ice, commanding like no other. Legend has it, Al once wrestled a grizzly bear trying to get into his stash of stogies....I think we know who won!
🔥 Bayberry North Townhouse Fire – New Year’s Eve 2024
This two-alarm fire broke out just as families were preparing to welcome in the New Year. The portrait captures firefighters from several companies in those critical moments—gearing up, focused, and ready to enter. In fact, this portrait captures a legend in his own right, Jamie Adams, a member of several area fire companies including Christiana and Odessa, and part time F/F at Delaware City Fire. While others were counting down to midnight, Jamie and the others were counting on each other.
To all those who run in when others are running out—thank you. Your strength, sacrifice, and service are never forgotten.
If you, or your station, is looking for artwork, please let me know! I do any and all kinds of portraits, from animals to people, to FFs. I'd be glad to work with you! My prices are extremely reasonable and my work is always well received. Thank you and stay safe.
https://www.stamperdesigns.com/
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