Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 10, 1996

Release #505-96

Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Dwight Williams (212) 788-2972


MAYOR GIULIANI AND FIRE COMMISSIONER VON ESSEN
OFFICIATE AT GRADUATION CEREMONY
FOR 74 PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTERS

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen today presided over a graduation ceremony at the Randall's Island Fire Academy for 74 probationary New York City Firefighters. The new class has completed 13 weeks of training in firefighting, fire suppression techniques and the emergency medical procedures required under the Department's Certified First Responder-Defibrillation program.

"This is a proud and happy day for our new probationary firefighters and their families," Mayor Giuliani said. "But it is also a happy day for every person in the City of New York. Firefighters symbolize the very best of who we are as a people and a society. Each of you is being a offered a rare opportunity. Not only will you have a proud and satisfying career, but you will have a chance to do something that very few people ever do -- save a human life. By the time you are ready to retire, you may never really know how many lives you have saved, but you can be sure that because you were there, people will be alive who otherwise would have perished."

"This ceremony represents the beginning of 74 lifesaving careers in service to the citizens of our City," Commissioner Von Essen said. "Having sat in one of these seats over 26 years ago, I can truly appreciate the hard work and dedication that these new firefighters have displayed as they completed a very rigorous course here at the Fire Academy. The training they have received over these last 13 weeks has prepared them well but they will continue to learn many other lessons in the field."

Today's probationary firefighters are the first to complete a new Fire Academy curriculum that places emphasis on the physical skills needed to operate safely on the fireground.

Immediately following today's graduation, the probationary firefighters will be assigned to engine and ladder companies throughout the City. They will then rotate assignments annually for the next three years, to ensure that they are exposed to a variety of firefighting experiences. At the end of their probation period, they will be permanently assigned.


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