After Chris O’Donnell’s group burned to the bottom, signing on for “9-1-1: Nashville” took on deeper that means

For Chris O'Donnell, getting forged on 9-1-1: Nashville meant greater than only a new gig.

The NCIS: Los Angeles alum has lengthy appreciated the work of first responders, however to play firefighter Don Hart on the ABC spinoff earlier this yr got here at extremely important timing.

"I dwell within the Palisades, my city had simply burned to the bottom," O’Donnell tells Leisure Weekly, referencing the wildfires that burned nearly 25,000 acres of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood within the larger Los Angeles space in January.

"We had been very lucky," the actor continues. "Our home was certainly one of a pair hundred that had been spared in Pacific Palisades after 5,000 burned to the bottom. We really feel so lucky and so grateful to all people that was on the market combating it. I imply, it's, there are many issues you’ll be able to complain about in life, nevertheless it's actually not the primary responders which can be on the market defending all of us and combating for us to maintain us secure."

Although his house was spared, the fires — for which Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht was charged for beginning the blaze earlier this month — utterly devastated O’Donnell’s group, so the prospect to "get out of L.A." and movie in Nashville was "nearly too good to be true," says the actor.

"I believe the entire nation actually had a very completely different appreciation for them after Sept. 11," O'Donnell provides of the respect for firefighters. "However it's one thing that begins once you’re younger. I keep in mind being a child and going as much as the firehouse was one of many greatest thrills of all time. And when our youngsters had been little, you might be having birthday events and seeing if you happen to might get the firemen to cease by with the truck. I imply, who didn't have the dream of being a firefighter sooner or later? I imply, it's wonderful."

The actor discovered himself channeling that childhood pleasure when coaching with actual firefighters forward of filming 9-1-1: Nashville.

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"It's quite a bit to digest," he says with fun. "Boy, they’ve numerous tools. I don't understand how these guys do it. I take into consideration the blokes climbing up the towers on 9/11. There's a lot gear and these fits and the boots and the helmets and the stuff they're carrying. And it's sizzling — they're excessive warmth — and it's unimaginable. And all simply the heavy equipment, the vans and the ladders, and the data they’ve of the various kinds of fires…. It’s like they're medical doctors."

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“We’ve been actually lucky to have numerous the native [firefighters] working as extras," he continues. "A few of them are nearly type of regulars. The hearth chief was simply by yesterday. It's enjoyable, and it adjustments every thing. Each time I see a firetruck go by, or I go a fireplace station, I'm so curious now what's the dynamic in there, and what does their station seem like inside and their firehouse?"

9-1-1: Nashville airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

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