LUMBERTON — Monica Hunt never pictured herself as a model, although being “hot” is more or less a requirement in her line of work.

The Robeson County native is among the 16 female firefighters featured in the 2017 Firehouse Dolls calendar. According to its website, the calendar raises money for charities that support “firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and dispatchers.”

Hunt has been a volunteer at Deep Branch Fire Department since 2013. She previously spent eight years volunteering as an emergency medical technician in Lumberton.

“It’s rewarding work, but you’ve got to have a love for it,” she said. “It’s a good feeling to know that you’re helping people out.”

The 31-year-old decided to try her hand at modeling after she was approached by a talent scout at a firefighters conference in Concord.

“It looked like it would be something fun to do to help with the donation process,” Hunt said. “I was tickled to death when they told me that I had been accepted. I did a little happy dance.”

The photo shoot took place in October at a fire station in Pennsylvania. In addition to appearing in the calendar, models help sell Firehouse Dolls merchandise by making public appearances at conventions and trade shows.

Hunt hopes the calendar will spark confidence in women who aspire to fight fires.

“I just want the girls to know that we can do the job just as good as the guys,” she said. “There aren’t that many [female firefighters] around here and we need more volunteers in Robeson County.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up less than 4 percent of all firefighters in the U.S.

The latest edition of the Firehouse Dolls calendar can be purchased at firehousedolls.com.

Contributed photo | Monica Hunt, a native of Robeson County, is among the 16 female firefighters featured in the 2017 Firehouse Dolls calendar.
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_1170751_1104744146242981_1029816539168024332_n.jpgContributed photo | Monica Hunt, a native of Robeson County, is among the 16 female firefighters featured in the 2017 Firehouse Dolls calendar.

Monica Hunt
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Screenshot_20160322-231024.jpgMonica Hunt
Monica Hunt featured in latest edition of Firehouse Dolls

By Jaymie Baxley • [email protected]

Features editor Jaymie Baxley can be reached at 910-416-5771 or by email at [email protected].