Calhoun fire dept. graduates new class

DBell@CalhounTimes.com

Calhoun Fire Chief Lenny Nesbitt told four newly appointed firefighters during their graduation ceremony on Monday night that they have worked hard and developed a good foundation but that they’ll never stop learning and developing their skills throughout their careers.

Three of the graduates of Recruit Class 04 — Mason Wade, Chase Potter and Mike Chavez — are now members of the Calhoun Fire Department after receiving their badges and helmets, while the fourth — Garrett Jones — is the newest member of the Chatsworth Fire Department.

Nesbitt lauded the work the men have put in and also praised the dozens of firefighters who helped trained the guys during their eight week recruit school. He told them and their friends and family members in attendance to be proud.

Training Chief Chris Cox echoed that sentiment, pointing out that this class was the first ever to complete the training without having a Personal Alert Safety System device activate at any point. A PASS device sounds an audible alert to notify others in the area if a firefighter is in distress.

Cox explained to the crowd that the eights weeks of training consisted of two weeks of hazmat training, four weeks of a combination of classroom learning and hands-on activity, and finally two weeks of intense hands-on practice, including a 24-hour, overnight session to give the recruits a taste of what a real shift could be like.

“Through it all, and the guys who worked with them can tell you, they never complained,” Cox said, later adding that the men were also astute students. “They’re taking to heart what we say. They’re sponges, and that’s a good thing.”

Cox said the experience transformed the recruits as they learned

GRADUATES,