WATCH: Hawaiʻi Fire Department celebrates graduation of 54th Firefighter Recruitment Class

Hawaiʻi Fire Department welcomed 18 recruits to its ranks last week with graduation of its 54th Firefighter Recruit Class.

Graduating firefighters received their badges during a July 17 ceremony in Hilo, joined by family, friends, fire service personnel and Hawaiʻi County leadership, celebrating completion of their recruit training and beginning of their fire service careers.

Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda recalled shaking the hands of the recruits 1 year ago at Haihai Fire Station as they began their training.

“Today, I have the privilege of shaking their hands again as firefighters,” Alameda said during the ceremony.

The mayor also praised what he called a “text-book perfect response” to the recent brush fire in Waikōloa, crediting Hawaiʻi Fire Department Training Division.

Chief Martinez Jacobs with Hawaiʻi Fire Department Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting echoed that recognition, citing comments from Committee of Accreditation Chairman Brian Bower, who described Battalion Chief Patrick Springer and his training staff as among the best he’s seen during his career.

Hawaiʻi Fire Department interim Fire Chief Daniel Volpe reflected on words shared with the class by late-Fire Chief Kazuo Todd before their recruit training began, when Todd spoke about the badge as a symbol of purpose and promise to serve.

“The badge you receive today is not a reward or a trophy. It is a symbol of the purpose carried by generations of Hawaiʻi firefighters that is now entrusted to you,” said Volpe during the ceremony. “Every time you put that badge on your uniform, let it remind you of your purpose and the promise you made: to save life and property, safeguard our community and serve the public with aloha.”

Fifteen of the 18 grads were assigned their first rotations with Hawaiʻi Fire Department, while the 3 others will serve in Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting.

Hawaiʻi Fire Department congratulates members of the 54th Firefighter Recruit Class and extends its appreciation to the instructors, training cadre, families and supporters who contributed to their success.

Those interested in future firefighter recruitment can sign up for notifications through Hawaiʻi County Department of Human Resources, with two recruitment cycles anticipated during the next 12 months.

Current minimum qualifications include:

• Satisfactory completion, by the time of hire, of English 100 and Health 125 with a grade of C or better, or equivalent coursework as determined by Kapiʻolani Community College.
• Qualifying Kapiʻolani Community College emergency medical technician or paramedic credentials. Current Hawaiʻi emergency medical technician-transport or emergency medical technician-paramedic license in good standing can be substituted for those course requirements.

Hawaiʻi Fire Department offers career pathways in emergency operations, special operations, fire prevention, training, emergency communications, auxiliary services and emergency medical services.