For the past few weeks, I have been photographing the firefighters down the street as part of my “On My Block” series.  The next group for my series are the people at St. Paul’s Church, which is located across the street from me.  Last night they celebrated Shrove Tuesday, which is the day before Ash Wednesday (you can read about it at Wikipedia here: Shrove Tuesday).

Below, the Reverend John Negrotto is burning the palms from last year for ashes used on Ash Wednesday.

Last week I spent seven hours with A Group to capture more images of life at the Engine 9 firehouse down the block.  Here is a selection of the best photographs.

Captain Melfa

Henriquez

Allen

A group responding to smoke in an apartment

Henriquez riding to the call

Firefighters from different companies in Jersey City arrive at the scene of the call

After the call turns out to be someone burning food on the stove, A group returns to the truck

Captain Melfa in the firehouse

Henriquez on his computer

Henriquez and Allen watching TV

Captain Melfa and Allen making pizza

Captain Melfa’s first attempt at pizza in the firehouse

A dinner of pizza and soda

Allen on the back of the fire truck

Henriquez on top of the fire truck with the water cannon, one of the two most powerful in Jersey City

Engine 9

The equipment lockers for all four groups of Engine 9