As documentaries and reality television series inundate the airwaves, Black Entertainment Television is reworking the script to take audiences away from the dangers police officers face and into the lives of unsung heroes — the Compton Fire Department.

“I think a lot of people don’t realize that fire service is one of those things you take for granted, unless it actually affects you directly you don’t really realize that we’re here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and we are behind the scenes,” said Deputy Chief Marcel Melanson, who plays a significant part in the new documentary series “First In,” airing Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. “We average 10,000 calls per year for service just for the city of Compton and that’s a dedication and a service that is never ending. … We live our lives ready at any moment to put our lives on the line for anybody who is in need of assistance.”

But the ones who may need them the most — their families — often get the short end of the stick as their jobs become priority No. 1.

“What personal life?” said Melanson, a father of two. “It takes you away from family and friends as well, especially the higher you go because there is more responsibility and the more the phone rings. It’s definitely tricky. It’s a balance that you have to find. There are a lot of times that my wife feels like she is a single mom. When I am away at fires and things of that nature, I may be gone for up to 14 days at a time, fighting wildland fires. You can imagine what stress that causes and how that affects the home life.”

The 10-episode series — written and directed by Michael McQuarn and executive produced by Nickie Shapira, Courtney Le, Mike Le and Tyrese Gibson, who also narrates — explores the fast-paced lives of Compton firefighters and paramedics as they try to balance a high intensity 72-hour shift and a seemingly non-existent family life. Serving in a city with one of the highest crime rates in the country, the fire department never falls short of things to do. Whether it be responding to local fires, gunshot wounds, gang related incidences or car crashes, the Compton Fire Department are always first on the scene.

“‘First In’ has a two-pronged approach. The direct meaning is that we are the first ones there to sort out situations,” said Melanson. “We handle all the paramedic services within the city of Compton. The Compton Fire Department is what I like to call a full service fire department where any gambit of any type of medical emergency you call on us, we are going to be able to respond and we will be able to handle it. … The flip side to that in fire services is that there is a lot of camaraderie and competitiveness, and to be the first in is kind of like you’re the one that is going to be challenged the most so it’s a coveted position to be the first one there.”

It was the latter, however, that inspired Melanson to begin as a full-time firefighter at age 19 and graduate to Deputy Chief by his early 30s, making him one of the youngest in the country to hold the position. But it is too what he hopes will be relayed to youth throughout the series.

“I was one of those kids that always wanted to be a fireman and I think back to as long as I can remember, it’s just been something that I’ve always been driven to do,” he said. “It’s a unique situation because most people want to be firemen because they want to help people. I think that’s a noble aspect of the job and I love that aspect of the job but my whole drive was that I liked the camaraderie, the sense of belonging, the family element of the fire service, the uniformity of it. It’s funny because I often mentor youth and I ask them why they join gangs and all those reasons why they say they join gangs are the reasons why I joined the fire service. And I put it off as this is the gang I joined, except I have benefits and retirement. … That’s the message we are trying to get out.”