Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has welcomed 208 new firefighters to its ranks at a graduation ceremony this morning at the FRNSW Emergency Services Academy in Orchard Hills.
Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott congratulated the new permanent and on-call firefighters and wished them well as they commence their service to the community.
“Becoming a firefighter is no easy feat. FRNSW attracts up to 8000 applications each year, yet of these thousands, only a small number are chosen,” Mr Elliott said.
“These recruits will not only face fires. They are trained to respond to various incidents including medical emergencies, natural disasters, flood rescues and car accidents, environmental and hazardous material emergencies and counter terrorism.
“The recruits will be joining an elite organisation that prides itself on continued training and learning and I am sure that many in the community will feel much safer with these highly-trained recruits now on duty across NSW.”
Fire and Rescue NSW received a record investment of $900 million this financial year to support frontline firefighters in protecting lives, property and to continue being prepared for anything.
FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter congratulated the new recruits at today’s ceremony.
“There were 208 dedicated new firefighters standing before us today, each of them from diverse backgrounds but sharing one common goal – to protect the irreplaceable,” he said.
“These recruits have the diverse skills, capabilities and talents required to undertake the varied work that our firefighters do – from educating the community about fire safety and providing emergency medical care to responding to fires, natural disasters and hazmat incidents.
“They’ve been trained to be prepared for anything and I know they will uphold the high standards of integrity, courage and professionalism expected of a FRNSW firefighter.”
The new recruits come from all over NSW and a range of backgrounds, including a former Nepalese firefighter, a former school teacher and an accomplished television production editor.
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