The latest season of CBS’s “Survivor” featured not one, but two firefighters among its contestants: Fire Captain Joe Hunter and Fire Lieutenant Chrissy Sarnowsky. Both brought their unique life experiences and firefighting backgrounds to the treacherous terrains of Fiji for “Survivor 48,” aiming to outwit, outplay and outlast their competitors for the coveted $1 million prize.
Joe Hunter
Hunter, 45, hails from Vacaville, California, and currently serves as a fire captain in West Sacramento. His journey to “Survivor” is deeply personal. According to The Reporter, Hunter’s sister, Joanna, was a fervent fan of the show and had long encouraged him to participate. However, Joanna’s life was cut short due to domestic violence in 2011. In her memory, Hunter and his family championed “Joanna’s Law,” enacted on Jan. 1, which grants families access to death investigation records of loved ones with a history of domestic violence.
When asked why he wanted to compete on “Survivor,” Hunter told Entertainment Weekly that his sister was his inspiration.
“She was a big fan of the show from when it started. She asked me to apply years ago, and many times. I didn’t think we could do it,” he said. “Then she was taken from me by domestic violence. It took me years, but this is for her. It is about doing this for her and giving her peace that her brother did it! And did it for her!”
Chrissy Sarnowsky
As a fire lieutenant from Chicago’s South Side, Sarnowsky, 55, has dedicated 26 years to the Chicago Fire Department and 33 years as a paramedic. Her motivation to join “Survivor” stems from a desire to inspire young girls.
“I want to show all the little girls out there they can be firefighters, truck drivers, policemen, etc. Anything they want!” she told Entertainment Weekly.
Sarnowsky’s journey to the island was serendipitous. A lifelong fan of the series, she applied on a whim after seeing a casting call during an episode, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Despite initial reservations about her colleagues’ reactions, she found immense support from her firefighting community. Reflecting on her experience, Sarnowsky admitted the challenges were tougher than anticipated but highlighted the camaraderie and support she received from her peers.
One firefighter out, one still in the game
Since the early days of the competition, both Hunter and Sarnowsky had managed to dodge elimination. On March 5, their respective tribes — Lagi for Hunter and Civa for Sarnowsky — finished strong in the immunity challenge, ensuring both firefighters lived to play another day.
The fourth episode, which aired March 19, brought a major shakeup as players dropped their buffs and were swapped into new tribes. Hunter joined the newly formed Vula tribe and quickly found himself on the wrong side of the numbers, but was saved when an ally played a hidden immunity idol. Sarnowsky remained with Civa and continued her streak of avoiding Tribal Council.
In the fifth episode, aired March 26, both stayed in the game once again. Vula won immunity, keeping Hunter safe, and Civa skipped Tribal Council entirely. Bianca Roses of the Yanu tribe was sent home instead.
But in Episode 8, which aired April 16, the streak ended for one of the firefighters. Sarnowsky became the second member of the jury after a tense Tribal Council, where she called out a strong alliance in a final attempt to shift the vote. Hunter, meanwhile, competed in a grueling endurance challenge and secured safety for another week.
This article, originally published on March 6, has been updated to reflect that Sarnowsky is no longer in the running.
