Firehouse Kitchen is television that explores the reality of being a firefighter by bringing together two powerful elements of their life– food and their heroic lifestyle. Firehouse Kitchen joins with PBS to produce one of the first ever cooking programs centered around the incredible food creations of the firefighter. With over 2+ million firefighters in America, the result will be a brand-new form of cooking entertainment as Firehouse Kitchen travels to different firehouses to cook up cuisine and discover inspiring stories of rescue and hope. Ray Cooney, a husband and proud father of three, is a retired New York City firefighter. While attempting to take a second floor window, back in November 2003, a back draft knocked him from his ladder. His fall landed him in the hospital with extensive back and hip injuries. The injuries he sustained, forced him into retirement. A few surgeries and one titanium hip later, Ray was back to finding new ways to keep his passion for the fire department alive. He joined the Bayport Volunteer Fire Department as a class B volunteer firefighter. Although he cannot fight fires anymore, he stays actively involved with fire prevention programs for the local children of Bayport and the surrounding areas as well as helping with and organizing fundraisers for the local fire department community. In July of 2010, while recovering from one of his hip surgeries, he decided to use the down time as a chance to pursue his love of television and screenwriting. With help from his nephew, a film student graduate, they wrote their first screen play. Thus, the beginning of Smoke Eater Films. Firehouse Kitchen blends two aspects of Ray's life. One it satisfies his love of film and all things fire department and two, it gives him the ability to raise money for charity and educate the public on fire prevention and safety. Ray truly enjoys visiting his fellow firefighters in their "Firehouse Kitchen."