A graduation ceremony was held at Service Headquarters in Eastleigh on Thursday, where the 21 recruits were presented with their certificates by Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin.
The intake was split into three squads throughout their course, and in an HIWFRS first, one of the squads was based on the Isle of Wight, utilising the bespoke training facilities at Ryde Fire Station.
Following a recruitment drive which attracted more than 900 applications, around 250 candidates were interviewed about what it takes to become a firefighter.
The successful applicants began their 17-week programme with the Learning and Development team back in September, where they were taught all the skills a modern-day firefighter is armed with.
Getting to grips with breathing apparatus, running out hoses and enduring ladder drills was just one aspect of the course.
Today’s trainees are now equipped to deal with water rescue and working at height incidents, as well as being able to perform Immediate Emergency Care and deliver vital fire safety messaging.
Learning and Development Station Manager Lacey Plumbley said:
“In recent years the role of a firefighter has changed, with those starting their careers now learning a vast range of skills.
“From tackling fires, to providing emergency medical care and from extricating casualties from vehicles, to delivering important safety messaging, our firefighters have to be trained in it all to ensure they are prepared to arrive on station ready to help make life safer.
“Our new trainees have demonstrated the attitude and professionalism we live by as a Service and I am sure they will integrate seamlessly into their new watches and uphold our values as an organisation within the community.”
“I would like to thank our Learning and Development team, who have all worked extremely hard to deliver a programme which has shaped our trainees into professional firefighters.”
Despite a busy schedule of classroom and drillyard learning, the tight-knit group found time to organise a charity fundraiser along with their trainers Lacey Plumbley, Rob Barrow, Martin Earl, Andy Cave and Liam Aspinall.
On a Saturday morning before Christmas, the trainees rowed and cycled the distance between all HIWFRS wholetime stations raising an incredible £1,750 to go The Fire Fighter’s Charity and Sophie’s Legacy.
Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin said:
“Our new firefighters have worked incredibly hard to reach this momentous point in their careers.
“It is always an honour to welcome new people into our fire service family and today’s graduates have shown incredible dedication to put themselves through a thorough application process and a rigorous training programme.
“They will now join up with their new teams on station and together will work to make life safer across our communities.”
Each of the graduates has now been assigned to a station where they will develop their knowledge as operational firefighters, a world away from their previous careers.
Swapping the classroom for the fire station is former primary school teacher Jake Wright, joining Southsea’s Green Watch, and college lecturer Daniel Sharratt soon to become a part of White Watch at Cosham.
Laura Mitchelmore is leaving the HIWFRS Prince’s Trust Team Programme as a Team Leader to begin her firefighter career at Redbridge.
On the other side of Southampton, former cleaner Georgie Hughes will be joining up with Hightown Fire Station’s Green Watch.
David Kirby will be riding fire engines instead of tanks after leaving his role as a Commander in the army. Joining David at St Mary’s is former lifeguard Jacob Jarvis.
Southsea’s Red Watch crew will be welcoming Shaun Graham and across Portsmouth at Cosham, Wesley Lanning will join his new team on Green Watch following his career in the infantry of the British Army.
At Eastleigh, former A&E nurse Hannah Broomfield will be fighting fires with Red Watch, and Rhianna Cearns, who previously worked as a translator, will begin her firefighting career with Blue Watch.
Following graduation, Fareham Green Watch will be welcoming Sam Cook, with Jack Wright set to work alongside his new crew in Gosport keeping the local community safe.
Former engineers Dominic Stevens and Callum Hills are set to join up with Blue Watch at Rushmoor, where Marc Nuttall, previously of the Royal Military Police, will be making life safer with his new White Watch crew.
Already accustomed to working at heights, former tree surgeon Tom Appleton will be based with Basingstoke’s White Watch along with fellow new recruit, Paul Charnock who was an officer in the RAF before commencing his firefighter training.
No stranger to the role is Leanne Watters who is swapping firefighting with Southampton Airport for firefighting with Basingstoke’s Red Watch.
The Learning and Development team also welcomed three recruits onto the course from Jersey Fire and Rescue Service.
Supported by 3SFire, Harry Matthews, Chris Rothery and Alex De Guelle completed their training alongside their HIWFRS colleagues and will now return to Jersey as fully skilled firefighters.
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