By Megan Matteucci
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta Fire Lt. Jerome Robinson gulped down five cheeseburgers Sunday and then climbed aboard a firetruck to rush to a call.
The veteran Atlanta firefighter said he didn’t think twice about the grumbling in his stomach or the calories in the ounce-and-a-half burgers, which were topped with bacon and an onion ring. All he thought about was fellow firefighter Willie Surry, who remains in the intensive care unit at Grady Memorial Hospital.
“Anytime someone gets hurt, we all help out. Every little bit helps, especially in this economy,” said Robinson, a firefighter for 22 years.
Robinson was one of five firefighters who competed against five Atlanta Police officers Sunday at the Hard Rock Cafe Guns and Hoses burger-eating contest. The winners of the contest get to design a pin for Hard Rock, which will donate some of the proceeds to the Gold Shield Foundation of Metro Atlanta.
The foundation helps firefighters and police officers who are injured or killed in the line of duty. Last year, the foundation donated $67,000 to injured first responders.
For most of the participants, Sunday’s competition was about camaraderie and the ongoing competition between firefighters and police. The officers nagged the firefighters about cooking in the station on their downtime. And there were jokes about cops’ love of doughnuts. In the end, the firefighters came out on top, eating 20 burgers --- two more than the police department --- in 10 minutes.
But for Robinson and the veteran firefighters, it was about guys like Surry.
“I feel great, but I’m full,” said Robinson, who works at Station 15 on Tenth Street. “Nobody sees what we do after midnight. What we do, we deserve to eat.”
Surry, a 29-year veteran firefighter, was working a brush fire Friday night on the side of I-285 near Langford Parkway. A tire blew off a passing tractor-trailer, striking Surry in the stomach. It broke his pelvis, hip and several ribs, Deputy Fire Chief Nish Willis said.
Surry, who is in critical but stable condition, is awaiting surgery on Saturday. On Sunday, he began remembering things and was able to talk, Willis said.
Gold Shield will help him with his initial expenses, Willis said.
“Most police and firefighters work two jobs. When they are hurt, they can’t work their part-time job,” said Willis, who serves on Gold Shield’s board. “We give them the money they would make on that job so they don’t get behind on their bills.”
Firefighter Antwan Smith had just finished eating lunch when his chief asked him to participate. Smith easily downed 41/2 burgers at the competition.
“It’s for charity. I’ll always eat for them,” he said, pointing to his fellow firefighters.
Copyright 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution