Additional Firefighters Will Assist the District in Reopening Fire Station 74 in Pinole and Staffing a Measure X Funded Ladder Truck Company in Antioch
CONCORD, CALIF. – Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) announced the graduation of its Firefighter Recruit Academy 58 and the addition of 28 new probationary firefighters to the district’s ranks.
Beginning this week, the new firefighter graduates of Academy 58 will join crews across the county. They will bolster ranks as the district prepares to reopen the long-closed Fire Station 74 in Pinole as part of a new contract-for-service arrangement for all fire services in that city to be implemented March 1.
Other new firefighters will staff a new fire truck company to be constituted in Antioch later this spring. The additional crews and equipment are expected to be in place ahead of what is likely to be another season of challenging wildfire weather.
Speaking at Wednesday evening’s graduation ceremony, Fire Chief Lewis Broschard said, “These 28 recruits have accomplished much in their 20-week course of instruction, learning from the best along the way. They are now well prepared to enter the next phase of their careers, serving the residents of Contra Costa County as Con Fire firefighters.”
Broschard added, “Our personnel are our greatest asset and we are committed to supporting their physical and emotional wellbeing for long and successful careers.”
The graduating firefighters underwent a physically and mentally challenging 20-week course of instruction using the latest firefighting and training techniques. In addition to structure firefighting techniques, these firefighters enhanced their knowledge and skills in wildland firefighting, rescue, automobile extrication, hazardous materials response, emergency medical services, and other techniques they can be expected to put to use in their first assignments as probationary firefighters.
The training was designed to develop each trainee’s ability to function under stress and perform as a member of a disciplined firefighting crew.
The graduation ceremony was held at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts on February 15 before an audience of several hundred family members, friends, local officials and public well-wishers. Each graduate was “pinned” with their firefighter badge and sworn in as a Con Fire firefighter
About Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) – With annexation of the former East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) in July, 2022, Con Fire now provides fire and emergency medical services to more than 750,000 residents in 11 cities and 10 unincorporated areas across our expanded 553 square-mile jurisdiction. Annexation resulted in absorption of the resources and people of the former ECCFPD, adding 294 square miles of service area. The district now comprises 32 fire stations and more than 500 employees. Through our unique ambulance Alliance, the district delivers EMS and ambulance transport services to much of Contra Costa County. In 2022, the district responded to nearly 100,000 incidents of all types, including 67,000 fire medical emergencies, and dispatched some 100,000 ambulances, conducting more than 75,000 ambulance transports. Con Fire remains dedicated to preserving life, property, and the environment.
