The Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) is welcoming 76 new members — 67 firefighter/EMTs and nine paramedics — into its ranks after a nine-month training program.
This year was the first live audience fire department graduation after the start of the pandemic. The fire department also celebrates 150 years in 2022. This year was very different from recent graduations as paramedic and firefighter classes graduating at the same time is an infrequent event.
"This is an unusual extra special event because we usually don't have paramedic and firefighter classes graduating simultaneously. Plus, firefighters graduate every two years and they've all worked so hard," Kathy Matheson, Communications Director for the Philadelphia Fire Department, told AL DÍA. This year’s graduation ceremony was special for other reasons, as well.