For Immediate Release: 6/20/2012 8:27 am
Worcester, MA (June 20, 2012) - Thirty-one (31) firefighter recruits will graduate on Friday, June 22 and join the ranks of the Worcester Fire Department. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at 11:00 AM at the Worcester Technical High School, Skyline Drive.
The new recruits have undergone a rigorous, three-month training academy, to include classroom education, hands-on exercises and rescue operations at the Leary Foundation Regional Training Facility and Burn Tower, located at Grove Street in Worcester. The recruits will be assigned to fire houses throughout Worcester.
"We are very proud of these young men for their commitment to public service," said City Manager Michael V. O'Brien. "This recruit class was critical to the operations of the department and the safety of our community, due to the wave of retirements that occurred over the last few years. After months of strenuous and difficult training, these young men will now join the proud ranks of the best fire department in the nation."
Staffing levels in the Worcester Fire Department are at an historic low due to a high number of retirements. A majority of firefighters were hired in the 1970's in recruit classes with numbers as high as 100. The last class of 39 recruits graduated in February 2011.
A number of the recruits will follow in the footsteps of relatives in the Fire Department, including the sons of Firefighters Paul Brotherton and Jon Davies.
"Our firefighters work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to protect our citizens and for that we are a very grateful community," said Mayor Joseph M. Petty. "As a community, we have experienced tremendous losses within our fire department, and as a result, our firefighters have become more proficient in developing newer, safer firefighting techniques and procedures. On behalf of the entire City Council, we stand with the men and women of our Worcester Fire Department and welcome our new recruits."
City Manager O'Brien will swear-in the recruits at Friday's ceremony. Fire Chief Gerard Dio, members of City Council and Congressman James McGovern, as well as other dignitaries will be in attendance.
"Worcester is a safer city because of the selfless dedication of our firefighters," said Congressman McGovern. "Our community is exceptionally lucky to have this group of highlytrained and skilled recruits to carry out that proud tradition of service."
Members of the 2012 recruit class include:
