Fire Department Academy Graduates New Members

By Troy Barrett

EL PASO — The El Paso Fire Department’straining academy graduated 12 men on Wednesday.

The newfire fighters were sworn in and one by one, they received their badges from their family members. Even though the twelvewere the latest graduates to join the ranks there is still a need for more firefighters.

Keeping up with thedemandsfrom thecity’s population growth is a challenge, said Battalion Chief Carlos Carmona.”It’s not that easy to order a new station and get it open. It takes elections, bond issues and then also to hire more personel to put in those positions. And we stay with it, we are prepared to meet the needs of the city at any given time,”he said.

Carmona said he hopes to have another 65 potential firefighters in the training academy by April.