Rochester, N.Y.- Rochester’s mayor and fire chief welcomed a new class of city firefighter recruits Monday. This class represents the most diverse Fire Academy ever held by the Rochester Fire Department.
The Fire Academy class of 24 city residents consists of one Asian male, two white females, one African American female, 11 African American males and nine white males. Five recruits are also military veterans.
In a statement, Mayor Tom Richards said, "The City of Rochester is committed to creating a workforce that reflects the incredible diversity of this city. This Fire Academy class represents another great stride forward toward that goal.”
The recruitment was the result of a big campaign to improve diversity which included the help of several city churches. City firefighters also visited job fairs, schools and colleges to recruit candidates for the Academy and a multi-media campaign was launched.
Recruits will undergo NYS Emergency Medical Technician, Firefighter Level 1 and Firefighter Level 2 training.
The class is scheduled to graduate in May 2013.
