Video: Calif. firefighters star in controversial Super Bowl halftime ad

PETALUMA, Calif. — Two firefighters from California were among the stars of one of this year's most talked about Super Bowl halftime ads.

Chrysler's "Halftime in America" commercial — narrated by Clint Eastwood — has since generated fierce debate over whether it carried a political message.

But for the two Petaluma firefighters who briefly appeared in the clip, the most pressing concern after its showing was sticking to the department tradition for appearing in the media — by buying ice cream for crew mates.

Batallion Chief Jack Schach said he and fellow officer Phil Sutsos were the only ones in Fire Station 1 when the film company knocked on the door in early January.

"They asked to take pictures of some fire equipment and if we wanted to be in a Dodge commercial that had the potential to be in the Super Bowl," Chief Schach told KTVU.

Each of them earned $100 for the commercial, and they say the money will be put in a general fund for fire equipment or donations.

"We're very proud to represent Petaluma and the fire services as a whole," Chief Schach told KTVU. "It's cool they wanted to have fire representation and we're honored to be a part that."