TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)– 16 new firefighters were sworn in at City Hall on Tuesday as the Terre Haute Fire Department welcomed its largest recruiting class in decades.
That’s according to fire chief Darrick Scott, who said the ceremony comes as staffing sits at historically low levels.
“What an exciting day for Terre Haute fire. We are at the lowest manpower level in 33 years,” he said. “Mayor Sakbun’s administration has promised the citizens of Terre Haute that Terre Haute fire will be at full staffing, we’re hiring 16 and that will put us close.”
This group won’t start going out on calls yet– first comes about four months of training. Scott warned them about the difficult weeks ahead.
“Usually our recruiting classes are in the fall or winter months because of fire gear and the heat and humidity,” he said. “It’s going to be tough on them physically and mentally. We start from the very basics to the advanced.”
Graduation will take place in October. Scott said he hopes, following another class in January, they will be at full staffing levels.
