In a Friday afternoon ceremony at the Central Fire Station, the St. John’s Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) welcomed 16 new recruits with the Class of 2018 recruit helmet ceremony presided over by Fire Chief/Director Sherry Colford and SJRFD Deputy Fire Chief Don Byrne, who presented the firefighters with their helmets and welcomed them to the SJRFD. For two current firefighters, the family tradition of firefighting continues, with a son and brother joining the ranks of the SJRFD.
Immensely proud to present their firefighter helmets to their sons were SJRFD Frefighter/paramedic Greg Parsons, handing the yellow helment to his son Zachary Parsons, while retired SJRFD Capt. Jack Wood presented his son Jodi Wood with his firefighter’s helmet, along with Jodi’s brother and current Firefighter Jason Wood.
Others to join the ranks of the SJRFD on Friday afternoon were Recruits Michael Broderick, Andrew Evans, Christopher Hillier, Steven Hunt, Karl Langer, Christopher Murray, Jeremy Nixon, Philip Norman, Zachary Parrell, Julian Pond, Mark Poole, Deidre Rees, Patrick Sullivan and Mark Tobin.
The 16 new firefighter recruits will enjoy the weekend off before they head to work next week at the various SJRFD stations around the metro region.