The Jersey City Fire Department swore in 25 new recruits at a City Hall ceremony this morning, the 72nd academy class overall and the first class trained and certified as Emergency Medical Responders (EMR) at the Jersey City Medical Center.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“As Emergency Medical Responders, our firefighters are even more prepared and equipped to provide initial emergency care in medical emergencies, providing additional levels of aid in situations where every second counts,” Fire Chief Steven McGill said in a statement.
The department is now over 650 firefighters, with 316 being sworn in since 2013 when Mayor Steven Fulop took office.
“We’re extremely grateful to our newest firefighters taking on an awesome responsibility, and also to their families who are constant support systems throughout their careers,” he noted.
“You are joining a tremendous fire department. One that is distinguished by always fulfilling the call of duty to our 250,000 residents and doing so in a way that makes Jersey City proud.”
This year, the JCFD is celebrating its 150th anniversary and the latest graduating class is comprised of multigenerational firefighters, including one recruit furthering the legacy of his grandfather and father as a Jersey City firefighter, four additional recruits following in their fathers’ footsteps, and two sets of recruits joining their brothers who are currently on the job.
The new recruits were sworn in about two weeks after officials broke ground on a new $5.6 million firehouse at 627 Grand St.
“We continue to focus on furthering public safety, a major component of which is providing the best fire protection possible for our entire community,” added Public Safety Director James Shea.
“This latest recruit class was hired in the middle of the pandemic, and following all safety protocols with diligence, no recruit contracted COVID throughout the 18 weeks of academy training.”
