There is a hot new band in town: firefighters from Washington, DC, historic home of go-go music - a subgenre of funk which was created by African-American musicians in the 1970s. These firefighters have joined talents to perform go-go gigs with their group "Heat Stroke." The idea came after an impromptu jam session in summer 2022, which led this year to their first public performances together. The first responders are now working on recording their own singles. "Yeah, the people are surprised, and I read some of the comments on Facebook and Instagram, they're like, 'You guys supposed to be fighting fires, why are you on the stage playing music?'" says band leader Michael Timmons with a laugh. "We work together, we're like brothers... And I think good music and good chemistry, that goes hand in hand," he tells AFP. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES ARRANGED IN SEQUENCES