Con Fire Graduates Academy 57, Adds 27 Lateral Firefighters To Ranks

Martinez CA

24 May, 2022

3:30 PM

Description

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Contra Costa County Fire Protection District announced the graduation this week of its Lateral Fire Academy 57 and the addition of 27 new experienced firefighters to Con Fire's ranks. "Academy 57 consisted exclusively of experienced firefighters from other agencies across the state and region who chose to join Con Fire to continue their careers," Con Fire Spokesperson Steve Hill said in a news release. "The abbreviated eight-week course of instruction was designed to align students' past training with Con Fire's organization and procedures." Beginning this week, the graduates will join crews across Con Fire's district, bolstering ranks that have been challenged by the early arrival of dangerous fire weather. "Each of these 27 experienced firefighters chose to uproot their careers and families to make a life choice to continue their careers with Con Fire," Fire Chief Lewis Broschard said during Monday evening's graduation ceremony. "We appreciate and value their decisions." Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Fire Chief Lewis Broschard delivers remarks at the Fire Academy 57 graduation ceremony Monday at Walnut Creek's Lesher Center for the Performing Arts (Photo courtesy Con Fire) The graduating firefighters underwent a physically and mentally challenging eight-week course of instruction using the latest firefighting and training techniques. In addition to structure firefighting techniques, they enhanced their knowledge and skills in wildland firefighting, rescue, automobile extrication, hazardous materials response, emergency medical services, and other techniques they can be expected to put to use in their first assignments as probationary firefighters. The training was designed to develop each trainee's ability to function under stress and perform as a member of a disciplined firefighting crew. In a ceremony at Walnut Creek's Lesher Center for the Arts before an audience of several hundred family members, friends, local officials and public well-wishers, each graduate was "pinned" with their firefighter badge and sworn in as a Con Fire firefighter. "We took great care to select the very best people possible for this academy, from many qualified applications," Broschard said. "I am confident we chose right. Congratulations on completing Academy 57 and thank you for making the decision to serve with Con Fire."