The Jersey City Fire Department today welcomed 32 new recruits into their ranks during a special ceremony at City Hall this morning.
By Corey McDonald/Hudson County View
“I just want to welcome everybody to the fire department family, because that what we are here,” Jersey City Fire Chief Steve McGill said during the ceremony. “This class here brings us to the largest number [of firefighters] in the city department in years.”
The 32 new firefighters, the 11th class to be sworn in under Mayor Steven Fulop’s administration, took their oaths of office in front of a packed city council chambers.
“We are one of the most densely populated cities in the entire country, we’re actually the 15th most densely populated city in the country … so the work that the fire department does, specifically with regards to knowing that we have old housing stock in this city, is often the difference between life and death,” Fulop said.
“You should be proud here because your loved ones … are joining the best department I’d argue anywhere in the country.”
The city has hired a total of 246 new firefighters over a seven-year period as they continue to grow and will soon likely be the largest city in the state.
Additionally, the increase in firefighters has allowed the department to fully staff every firehouse in the city.
“Increasing public safety is an all-encompassing approach, and we’ve worked hard to build the best fire department in the state,†added Public Safety Director James Shea.
“These graduates have undergone the rigorous training necessary to be a part of this great department, and we will continue to expand public safety citywide, which includes another class of recruits entering the academy this spring.”
Follow Corey McDonald on Twitter @cwmcdonald_
