A new television series aims to improve the image of Baltimore through the stories of retired heroes. The series, "Baltimore Heat" would tell the story of the city's firefighters. Those associated with the project hope to raise $250,000 to get the series off the ground.

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A new television series aims to improve the image of Baltimore through the stories of retired heroes.Download the WBAL appRetired Baltimore City firefighter Jimmie Hayes recalls the day on March 6, 2004, when a fast-moving storm called a microburst rolled over Baltimore's Inner Harbor, capsizing a water taxi, killing five people."I saw the clouds rolling, black like I'd never seen them before," Hayes said. "That day, I happened to be the first one on the scene. At that time, the first diver on the scene automatically became in charge. If you had kids at that time, it affected you tremendously."It's that kind of story executive producer Steve Yarn and his team at Reel Good Productions hope to put together for the world to see in a new TV series, "Baltimore Heat." Reel Good Productions and Bmore Film hope their project will be a change agent."When I travel around the country and say, 'I am from Baltimore,' they always refer to 'The Wire.' The city, not only because of 'The Wire,' but because of the riots has such a negative image," Yarn said.They are turning to Baltimore's retired firefighters, like Hayes, who have stories to share of triumph, heartache and love from their work and interactions with the people of the city."I thought this would be a great way to tell more heroic, great, funny, fascinating, interesting stories about a great group of Baltimore City heroes changing the image of the city, and also changing the image of African-American men in this city. That's what prompted this whole project," Yarn said.The producers are looking for people interested in joining them on Kickstarter, a website that helps bring creative projects to life with financial contributions."If folks get involved at a higher level, $2,500 or more, they will be included in our preview video we will be shooting from proceeds made from our Kickstarter program," Yarn said."He wants actual stories, truthful stories which actually happened. I find that amazing because it will be really things coming from real firefighters. (It will come from) people who were on the scene from those that actually participated in what happened," Hayes said.Yarn hopes to raise $250,000 through his Kickstarter campaign to get his project off the ground. The campaign opens March 1.The project is independent of the Baltimore City Fire Department.