State welcomes 24 new firefighters
Published: 24th August 2018
Twenty-four new firefighters were today welcomed into the ranks of Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW), having proven their abilities over months of intense training.
The state’s newest firefighters, who include a former State of Origin star, a representative gymnast, an ex-infantry soldier, a clinical nurse, and several recruits from the Indigenous Fire and Rescue Employment Strategy, graduated in a ceremony at the FRNSW Training College in Alexandria.
Minister for Emergency Services Troy Grant welcomed the recruits into the firefighting family and thanked them for choosing a profession committed to protecting communities across NSW.
“These 24 firefighters have signed up for one of the most challenging jobs in our community, and in my opinion, one of the most important,” Mr Grant said.
“Just this month we’ve seen our firefighters deployed overseas to help battle destructive wildfires in North America, while other crews have worked tirelessly here at home to protect people from bush fires burning across NSW.
“Our newest full-time firefighters will continue with this vital work, joining crews at FRNSW stations across Sydney and regional NSW. Their contribution is crucial to ensuring the safety of our communities and I thank them for their service.”
FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter said the graduates had proven themselves able to meet the many challenges of the job, from firefighting and road‑crash rescue, to advanced first aid, fire science and hazardous materials response.
“Our firefighters are trained to be prepared for anything – ready to help anyone, anytime, anywhere,” Commissioner Baxter said.
“This graduating class has the diverse skills, capabilities and talents required to undertake the varied work firefighters do – from educating the community and providing emergency medical care to responding to natural disasters and hazmat incidents.
“I know they will uphold the high standards of integrity, courage and professionalism expected of a FRNSW firefighter, and it is a pleasure to welcome these firefighters to our full-time ranks.”