MIDLAND, Mich. --
One local fire department's fireworks safety video went viral and captured national headlines. Now the rapping Midland firefighters are back with a second installment.
Firefighters Mark Laux, Roger Bebeau and Steve Makowski have appeared on CNN, in various newspapers and on numerous radio programs.
TV5's own Liz Gelardi was on hand while they taped their next message.
The trio's rap safety video about fireworks went viral on YouTube and at last check, the three-minute video had more than 42,000 views.
The group is back at it again, except this time, they aren't rhyming.
"Our target audience is 18 and above, and it's smoke detector safety, so we figure a good way to do that is maybe a spoof on some crime scene type shows," said Makowski.
This time around the group is "FSI Midland," or Fire Safety Investigators – Midland, their take on the popular television series "CSI."
"Basically, we get dispatched out to a scene that has some type of smoke detector issue, we grab all our evidence take it back to the lab and analyze it and on the way back to the lab, we get met by a pushy reporter," said Makowski.
That pushy reporter is TV5's Liz Gelardi. The firefighters convinced her to make a cameo appearance in their video.
"It's not that easy to keep a straight face around these guys," said Gelardi of her experience on Thursday. "I never thought I'd be playing the part of a reporter, but I guess it's only fitting because I do it everyday."
Even though the video is good fun, it carries an important message.
"We're just trying to get people to check their smoke detectors," said Laux. "So many times, we go to a home for a fire and they don't have a working [smoke detector]."
So check your smoke detectors, and check YouTube, because this video is sure to be a hit just like the last one.
The firefighters want to have the video edited and ready by October, in time for fire safety month.
You can also watch the trio's first video by clicking the video box to the right.
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