Hon Reece Whitby MLA, Minister for Emergency Services; Racing and Gaming; Small Business; Volunteering, Media Release, 23 July 2021

• 26 firefighters graduate after intensive 21-week training course
• New recruits come from a range of backgrounds including engineering, mining and teaching
• 22 firefighters will begin their careers in Perth, and four in regional WA
• Three of the firefighters are women

Western Australia’s Career Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) has welcomed 26 new firefighters into its ranks as the State enters the busiest period for home fires.

Trainee Firefighter School 86 successfully completed a gruelling five-month training course this month.

The course is fiercely competitive, with the trainees selected from more than 1,000 applicants.

Their training included structural and marine firefighting techniques, road crash rescues, emergency driving instruction, hazardous materials and community safety.

The new recruits bring a wide range of knowledge and experience to the CFRS, having transitioned from careers in education, defence, engineering and other emergency services.

The age difference between the youngest and oldest graduate is 17 years, underlining the diversity of participants in the training program.

Four firefighters will be stationed in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, while the remaining 22 will begin their careers at fire stations across the Perth metropolitan area.

Comments attributed to Emergency Services Minister Reece Whitby:

“I would like to congratulate all the graduates of Trainee Firefighter School 86 who have spent the past five months training and preparing themselves for their new careers.

“It takes a great deal of compassion and commitment to dedicate your life to protecting your community and it’s particularly exciting to have four graduates starting their careers in regional WA.

“Our recruits come from a wide variety of backgrounds and WA’s Career Fire and Rescue Service will benefit from their life experience and their diversity of skills and perspectives.

“I wish each of the new firefighters all the best as they embark on their careers at fire stations across WA next week.”

For more information on a firefighting career, visit http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/recruitmentandtraining