VIDEO: Dozens of recruits are training right now to become a firefighter in Louisville. Whether they join the city department or one in the county, there's a connection they'll have with each other previous recruits didn't have.
They are the Louisville Division of Fire's Class 186, the largest class to come through the Louisville Fire Training Academy, located at 1501 W. Hill St. It's due to a new partnership between three fire departments, who for the first time, are training as one. Louisville's trained Shively firefighters for years but just welcomed 15 recruits from Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District.
"This is tryouts. You’ve earned the right to try out for one of the departments that hired you," Patrick Dalrymple, LFD's Chief Training Officer said.
The first week started off with 64 recruits. By the third week, it was down to 60.