The large group was hired with $2.8 million in Federal grant funds the department was awarded last year. The “Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER)” grant is helping the department to achieve its goal of meeting National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) minimum staffing standards.

The recruits will begin training for their Firefighter certification on April 8 and are expected to graduate from Rookie School on June 14.

“This is the largest group that the department has hired since the early 1990s,” said Fire Rescue Chief Mark Foulks. “This group will basically make up a full training academy class,” he said. “We are thankful for the opportunity to have them come on board to assist us with meeting the NFPA staffing standards, thus enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the services we provide to the community.”

Meet the new Trainees here

Photo: Front Row (L to R): Jeremy Dunfee, Thomas Mickelson, Anthony Bowles, Ryan Pointer, Justin Bradford, Brent McBee, Jake Rusch, Gabriel Holmes, Malcolm Bonner, Adam Wynne, Zane Fischer, Evan Gambler, Christopher Christian, Theodore Martin, Matthew Campbell, Lyle Haywood, and Jordan Woodhouse.

Back Row (L to R): Justin Dillard, Joseph Decker, Andrew Carter, Hunter Martin, Emileen Holladay, Christopher Cooper, Nathan Styles, and Jason Richardson.