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Retired Worcester Firefighter Places 5th On TLC Baking Show

WORCESTER (CBS) - A retired Worcester Firefighter has picked up a pretty lucrative new hobby.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports.

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Carmelo Oquendo never set out to be a great baker, but when he went out to visit a cousin some time ago, he learned a few tricks, and from there, there was no turning back.

"I started using the family as guinea pigs, if you will, and started uploading those cakes onto a website called Cake Central. They saw the cakes, sent the invitation to the TLC program," said Oquendo.

He later appeared on TLC's "The Next Great Baker," where he made it to 5th place.

Oquendo said he's waiting to hear back from TLC sometime in August about a possible new project.

"The next episode is the week of August 17, and hopefully I get a gig with them. I don't want to say to much because I'm not supposed to, I'm under contract, but there may be something coming up with TLC," said Oquendo.

Until then, Oquendo said he will keep making cakes for friends, family and anyone else who wants them.

"On the side I've been trying to do cakes when I can, but just doing a lot of appearances is basically what I've been doing," said Oquendo.

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