FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2021
CFD Graduates Largest and Most Diverse Recruit Academy
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - The Charlottesville Fire Department announces the graduation of twenty-two firefighters, the most diverse academy in the organization's history.
The Charlottesville Fire Department is excited to introduce twenty-two newly trained firefighters to our community. These newest employees, recruited from locations as far away as California, officially join the CFD family after 101 days in training. The department's training academy included certifications in firefighting, emergency medical care, hazardous materials, technical rescue, emergency vehicle operations, mental health intervention, and more.
They will continue their transition as full-time (probationary) firefighters over the next nine months. Each new firefighter must complete a series of hands-on training to complement what they learned in the academy and apply it to real-life situations. In addition, they will rely heavily on the knowledge and expertise of fellow firefighters who will serve as mentors while they work 24-hour shifts in fire stations on a 56-hour workweek.
The academy is the most diverse group of firefighters hired by the Charlottesville Fire Department since 1865. Some firefighters from this academy will be eligible to retire in 2051. Three firefighters have a military background. Several of them were born and raised in the Charlottesville community. Others have experience in police forensics, pharmacology, management, hospital care, and firefighting.
Please welcome our firefighters to the community.
Media Contact
Joe Powers
Deputy Chief
Charlottesville Fire Department
434-970-3528
powers@charlottesville.gov