Ft Worth Times

On Monday, Sept. 25, the newest Fort Worth Fire Department recruits arrived at Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex to start their Fire Training Academy journey. The class, made up of 60 recruits, is twice the size as the usual Academy class.

Why it matters: The Fire Training Academy for the Fort Worth Fire Department is a 36-week course.

• The first group of graduating recruits will be Class 93 on Nov. 17. These 10 recruits are “fast-tracked” students, meaning they already hold their Fire and EMS certifications.
• The second group, Class 94, will graduate on May 17, 2024. This class is comprised of 50 new recruits who hold no certifications.

The largest Fire Training Academy recruit class in the history of the FWFD comes after the mayor, City Council and city management’s vote to approve increased staffing levels. As Fort Worth continues to grow exponentially, the size of the department needs to grow to provide the service that the residents and guests of this City have come to depend on.

What they’re saying: “I want to thank the mayor, City Council and city management for their diligence in seeing us through our staffing study and helping make the necessary adjustments to our staffing levels,” said Chief Jim Davis. “I’m excited that the department is growing alongside the City of Fort Worth and look forward to watching the new recruits go through one of the best training academies in the country.”

What’s next: In addition to the increased number of recruits attending the Academy, staffing studies and negotiations with City leadership and stakeholders, have permitted an additional 15 people to be added to the training team. These new training instructors, as well as the use of adjunct instructors from within the department, will provide even more skill-based learning opportunities with experienced and tenured firefighters.

Original source can be found here.