New Bedford, MA, Fire Companies at Full Strength Again

For the first time in almost two years, each of the ten New Bedford, MA, Fire Department fire companies (seven engine companies and three ladder companies) are fully manned. Forty-four new New Bedford firefighters graduated with five recruits from the Fall River Fire Department and one from the Somerset Fire Department.

Together, the fifty recruits composed Recruit Class 1 of the Southeastern Massachusetts Fire Academy, an initiative that was begun after New Bedford received a federal Homeland Security grant early this year.

Media reports:

Standard-Times: Retooled New Bedford Fire Department welcomes 44 firefighters (23 JUL 11)

Peter Pereira : Photojournalist: New Firefighters from New Bedford, Fall River and Somerset are sworn in at the graduation of Southeastern Massachusetts Fire Academy

Background information:

New Bedford Fire Department

Fall River Fire Department

Somerset Fire Department

City of New Bedford

Wikipedia: New Bedford, Massachusetts

Massachusetts Department of Fire Services