A class of 18 cadets have made it through the six-month long fire academy to become the newest members of the Chattanooga Fire Department. The greaduation ceremony will be held on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Clear Creek Church of Christ.
"These firefightes are the future of our agency and they’ve worked extremely hard to get to this point," officials said. "They have successfully completed Emergency Medical Technician training and learned about all of the different aspects of the fire service. They’ve mastered a number of skills like hazardous materials response, forcible entry, high rise fire operations, vehicle extrication, rope rescues, tactical ventilation, Rapid Intervention Techniques (saving a fellow downed or injured firefighter) and Fire Ground Survival (saving themselves from a fire if they become trapped or disoriented).
"Our expert instructors have dedicated countless hours to teaching the cadets everything they need to know about the job through many intense, informative and hands-on training evolutions. The class is prepared and ready to respond to emergencies and help members of their community.
"All of these new firefighters have expressed how excited they are to serve and protect the citizens of Chattanooga. They are eager to start work in our fire halls and continue learning from veterans in the department."
The 2022 Fire Academy will be joined by members of the command staff and city government, as well as their family members as they graduate.