DENVER — Despite the chill in the air Friday night, it’s quite heated at auditions for the 2013 Colorado Firefighter Calendar in Denver.

This is the calendar’s first major event since a financial scandal last fall forced the former organizer to step down.

The screams firefighters hear are usually for help–not this–ladies screaming and squealing with delight.

And usually firefighters battle smoke and flames–not each other.

“Whether I make it or whether I don’t, just being asked to do it is a great honor,” says Eric Pingel from Buckley AFB Fire Department.

These professional firefighters compete for one of 14 coveted spots in the 2013 Colorado Firefighter Calendar.

“Firefighters are all about helping people. If we can use our role as firefighters to promote fire safety and help Children’s Hospital, I think any of us would take advantage of the opportunity,” says Matt Zavala with Boulder Fire Department.

DENVER — The Colorado Firefighter Calendar left some people feeling burned last fall when the woman who founded the organization behind it spent money meant for charity instead, on herself.

Now, the calendar rises from the ashes under a new volunteer organization, Colorado Firefighter Calendar Inc.

“We are really excited about the future of the calendar,” says Barbara Brooks, saying the organization has two treasurers and a full board of directors to prevent any future misuse of funds.

The calendar’s new organization is happy the mission to help burned children, is back.

“All net proceeds go to Children’s Hospital,” says firefighter Tyler Capron.

This Friday is the first major event since the scandal: an audition for the 2013 calendar.

It’s not all that unusual to get a little bit of snow in early May along the northern Front Range.  In fact, getting any kind of precipitation is great just before spring planting.

Ask any green gardener in the Denver area, and they’ll tell you that right about now is the best time to get those tender flowers and veggie plants into the ground.  That’s because by the second week in May, Denver’s average low temperature is well enough above freezing that the chances for a killing frost are slim, at best.

Most metro areas got between a half an inch and three quarters of an inch of rain Monday.

Skies are going to clear overnight.  With lots of sun in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday comes the promise of warmer and more seasonal high temperatures in the mid 60s.  There’s a little more rain in the forecast on Friday, but Saturday and Sunday look mild and dry with highs in the upper 60s and lower 70s.