SAFER grant used to hire eighteen new firefighters

This week, Historic City News welcomes eighteen new firefighters and certified Emergency Medical Technicians to the ranks of the St Johns County Fire Rescue.

The recruits, who were hired through a federal Staffing for Fire and Emergency grant, will be placed on fire engines, heavy rescues and ladder trucks throughout St. Johns County.

The new personnel (many of whom are paramedics) begin a full year of probationary training, where they will hone their firefighting and emergency medical skills under the tutelage of a senior Fire Rescue officer.

Prior to hitting the streets, the recruits graduated from an intensive, 6-week school where they were trained and tested in department policies and procedures, live fire and wildfire scenarios, vehicle extrication and more.