This Friday, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue is set to honor a new class of firefighters at its graduation and pinning ceremony. According to their announcement, the event will celebrate 33 new members joining the force, including individuals from diverse and unique backgrounds, such as a former college football quarterback, a championship four-wheeler driver, and a one-time New York Yankees employee.
The ceremony showcases the success of the department's Specialized Training for Emergency Professionals (STEP) program, with five graduates, from its inaugural cohort taking part. The STEP initiative, designed to help those in tough economic situations embark on firefighting careers, has previously graduated 15 students who've all earned necessary certifications to work across Florida. However,, not all the new recruits are from the STEP program. All have completed the required Fire Academy training and are certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).
During the ceremony at Riverhills Church of God, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Friday, the new firefighters will receive their formal induction into the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue fold. They will receive their station assignments and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue shields for their helmets. Following the event, the graduates are set to start their assignments the following week, where they will be responsible for fighting fires, handling emergency calls, and assisting the community on a daily basis.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue operates 47 fire stations and employs nearly 1,300 firefighters to serve the needs of over 1.1 million residents in unincorporated areas of Hillsborough County. The ceremony not only marks a personal milestone for the new firefighters but also reinforces the department's commitment to its mission to serve and protect the community. For those interested in attending, the address for the Riverhills Church of God is 6310 E. Sligh Ave., Tampa, FL 33617.
