HARRISONBURG, Va -- Firefighters shared a Thanksgiving meal with their families Thursday afternoon at the fire station. The city council and the city manager offered to bring in food, so workers could spend time with their families on the holiday.

Firefighters said they were thankful to spend time with loved ones.

“It means everything in the world to be able to have our families here,” said Capt. Ben Zimmerman, with the Harrisonburg Fire Department. “All of us in public safety, we're kind of like a big family anyways, but to be able to bring our spouses and our kids in, it means the world to all of us.”

Fire department workers also invited Harrisonburg Police officers, James Madison University police and other emergency workers. About 50 people ate their Thanksgiving meal at the fire station on Thursday.

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