Mayor Bill de Blasio and Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro today swore in a new class of 320 probationary firefighters. This new class is one of the most diverse in FDNY history, with 45 percent of the new recruits identifying as women and people of color. The probationary firefighters, known as “Probies,” will attend a rigorous training program at the Department’s Fire Academy located on Randall’s Island. The ceremony took place at the FDNY Training Academy, where Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Nigro congratulated the recruits – who began their first day of training immediately.

“Today, we honor and welcome 320 heroes with enormous talent, unrelenting work ethic and remarkable backgrounds into the FDNY family,” said Mayor de Blasio. “This year’s class reflects the rich racial and ethnic diversity of our great city, and I couldn’t be more proud. On behalf of 8.4 million New Yorkers, I want to thank each and every one of these heroes for their sacrifice and for their service.”

“With each new class of Probationary Firefighters, FDNY grows stronger and more representative of the communities it serves by adding more women and people of color to their ranks,” said Commissioner Nigro. “Like every class that has come before them, these new Probies will undergo extensive training as they earn the right to call themselves New York City Firefighters.”

Among the entering class, 17 percent identify as Black, 24 percent as Hispanic and 4 percent as Asian. The class includes three women, which, including 44 female firefighters actively serving in the field, brings the total number of female firefighters to 47—the highest total in FDNY history. In this past decade, the Fire Department has doubled the number of firefighters from minority backgrounds serving in New York City.

This new class of probationary firefighters also includes 13 EMTs and Paramedics from FDNY’s Bureau of EMS who passed a promotional exam to the rank of firefighter, as well as more than 50 veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

Over their 18 weeks at the FDNY Training Academy, this class will be extensively trained in all aspects of their job as firefighters, including fire suppression and medical response, hazardous materials, collapse and confined space rescue training, auto extrication, building inspections, and procedures for engine and ladder operations.

(YWN Desk – NYC)