Home Contra Costa County Contra Costa Fire adds 27 Probationary Firefighters

Contra Costa Fire adds 27 Probationary Firefighters

Press Release

by ECT

New Probationary Firefighters to be Assigned to Stations Across District, Bolstering Omicron-Challenged Ranks

CONCORD, CALIF.– Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) today announced the graduation of its Fire Recruit Academy 56 and the addition of 27 new probationary firefighters to the District’s ranks.

The new firefighters will join crews across the District, bolstering ranks that have been challenged by the impacts of the Omicron spike.

Speaking at Wednesday evening’s graduation ceremony, Fire Chief Lewis T. Broschard III said, “You chose to serve in one of the most honorable and respected professions in the world. You’ve learned from the best and are now ready to enter the next chapter in that profession. Academy 56, I wish you all the best for long and rewarding fire service careers.”

Broschard added, “After completing a rigorous 20-week fire recruit academy training program these firefighters are exceptionally well prepared to step into new roles as probationary firefighters in fire stations across our very busy District.”

The graduating recruits underwent a physically and mentally challenging 20-week course of instruction using the latest firefighting and training techniques. In addition to basic structure firefighting techniques, recruits learned wildland fire, rescue, automobile extrication, hazardous materials and other techniques they can be expected to put to use in their first assignments as probationary firefighters. Training is designed to develop each recruit’s ability to function under stress and perform as a member of a disciplined firefighting crew

Immediately prior to graduation, the recruits participated in the traditional end-of-academy “crucible” exercise, a realistic 48-hour period designed to replicate what they will soon face in actual shifts In their first assignments as probationary firefighters. The crucible exercise included numerous simulated incident responses including a vehicle accident rescue and structure fires, and concluded with deployment to a training wildfire atop Mt. Diablo’s Eagle Peak, which required a six-plus mile hike in full wildland fire gear.

The graduation ceremony was held at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts on March 2, 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 probationary firefighter

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