STARRETT CITY – A NEW CLASS of 235 probationary firefighters graduated on Thursday morning at the Christian Cultural Center in Starrett City, at a ceremony presided over by Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore.
The class includes members who passed a promotional exam to the rank of firefighter after previously serving in other roles within the Fire Department, as well as several former military servicemembers.
The “probies” have been training for 18 weeks at the FDNY Training Academy in necessary skills, including fire suppression and medical response, hazardous materials response, collapse and confined space rescue training, auto extrication, building inspections and procedures for engine and ladder operations. They will soon be assigned to firehouses throughout the city, where they will gain field experience under senior firefighters and officers.
Also in the class are Probationary Firefighter Joseph J. Downey, grandson of Deputy Chief Raymond Downey, and Probationary Firefighter Robert S. Palmer, nephew of Battalion Chief Orio Palmer, killed on Sept. 11, 2001.
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