Fire Academy Graduates Largest Class Ever
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(Tuesday) August 31, 2010
By James Cullum
Fire Suppression (Courtesy Photo)
The Alexandria Fire Department has hit a milestone. On Friday, September 3, 2010, 31 firefighter and rescuer recruits will graduate as the 38th Fire Academy class. This is the largest recruit class in the department’s history to run through the Academy. The 31 recruits nearly equal the number of firefighters required to minimally staff a shift of fire suppression personnel.
“On the Fire Firefighter 1 test four members achieved scores of 100%,” said Melvin Byrne, Division 7 Chief of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, which runs the Academy. “Seldom do I have one person in a class, and never have I had four from the same class score 100′s on that test. This speaks volumes about the selection process and the quality of instruction.”
This year, Academy staff used a collegiate format as opposed to the more traditional military style. The recruits underwent strenuous classroom and physical training. Members of the 38th Fire Academy Class are from diverse backgrounds, including a former airline pilot, two teachers, a farmhand, a former U. S. Senatorial staff member, a stay-at-home dad and three certified fitness trainers.
Some recruits also contributed to workout video presentations for www.Firehouse.com. The video segments were aired on the website as part of Health, Safety and Survival Week from June 20 through June 26, 2010. Upon graduation, the recruits will leave the Academy to begin their probationary year and careers with the Alexandria Fire Department.