Chicago Heights Fireman Braves Pink Paw Patrol Bedding

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — Chicago Heights firefighter Brian Kassela will be there on the double, but when he can finally rest during his grueling, 24-hour shift, he nods off to dreamland tucked under his pink comforter with puppies.

You heard that right: Pink Puppies.

The burly veteran fireman dresses his firehouse bed with Paw Patrol bedding.

Go ahead and laugh. He dares you to. Jealous.

"Since I was in grade school, I was the class clown," Kassela, 48, said.

The pink frills were intentional; Paw Patrol was a bonus.

Kassela said when it came time to replace his sheets, he asked his fiancee for a little help. The guys usually all go with blue, gray or stripes. He wanted something a little ... different. Think unicorns or something pink, he told her.

She searched high and low. And then she went a level better. She found Paw Patrol blankets. Paw Patrol is a cartoon featuring puppies. Marshall, the Dalmatian is a firefighter and paramedic. Like Kassela.

"She knocked it out of the park," Kassela said.

The Chicago Heights fire department posted a picture of Kassela's new bedding and it set social media followers buzzing.

"I don’t care if this individual has 20 years on, the officer should make him yell “I’m Fired Up!” every time he has to get up for a call..." one follower joked.

Kassela explained that as both paramedics and firefighters, he and the crew face harrowing situations when other people's lives often are in their hands. He and his colleagues work 24 hours on, 48 hours off. So they eat together, sleep together, fight fires together. It's a stressful and demanding job, he explained.

Humor helps.

"I love going to work every day," he said. "It’s a fun job. It's a great job."

"Sometimes it's fun just to lighten things up."