Gresham is excited to celebrate the first Fire Academy graduation ceremony since November of 2020. Taking place on June 30 at 1:00 pm in Council Chambers, twelve recruits will be graduating and joining the Gresham Fire and Emergency Services Department as of July 1.
"We are very proud of the work this class has put in already”, says Captain Travis Soles. “We’re excited to see them go out on the line at this critical time when the demands of the summer are already upon us.”
The Fire Academy, taught by the Gresham Fire Training Division, is a three-month process that is designed to transform a new employee with no previous experience into a Firefighter II ranking. During the course of the three-month academy, recruits are taught individual skills, such as deploying and loading a hose, raising various sized ladders, connecting to hydrants, search techniques, salvage and overhaul, and working as a team. Additionally, recruits study fire development and behavior and are trained in “Live Fire” to build their comfort in working in an environment that may be new to many of them.
This format is intentional in order to provide the best opportunity to hire a diverse workforce that is reflective of our community, as opposed to requiring entry-level personnel to come in with a specific level of experience.
Gresham Fire and Emergency Services have been given the approval of City Council to hire an additional twelve firefighters in an effort to continue to fill existing and projected vacancies.
“We are grateful for the support of our City Council,” said Deputy City Manager Corey Falls. “At a time when public safety is growing increasingly complex, it is important that we not only continue to provide the services our communities need but improve them as well.”
The job announcement for the additional twelve Fire and Emergency Services positions opens on July 1 with a target of starting the next Fire Academy in March of 2023.
For more information, visit GreshamOregon.gov/Jobs.
Source: https://greshamoregon.gov/News/2022/Gresham-celebrates-the-first-Fire-Academy-graduation-since-2020/
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