These brand-new firefighters are now ready to head out into the North East to save lives.
On Friday. twenty-three Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service new recruits took part in a passing out ceremony on the parade ground of the service's Washington training centre.
The graduates, the oldest aged 40 and the youngest aged 19, will now take up jobs in the lifesaving emergency service across the region.
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Over the past 13-weeks the trainees took part in an intensive practical and theory training programme that saw them learn new core skills including hose running, ladder and pump use, using breathing apparatus, and dealing with hazardous materials.
The recruits underwent weekly exams to test them on the information they had learnt throughout the week, coupled with a rigorous fitness regime involving cardio and weights.
It's the 53rd time the fire service has conducted this training course since they began using it in 1974.
Chief Fire Officer Chris Lowther said: “We are extremely proud of our new recruits as they are the firefighters of the future.
“They have successfully completed the highly demanding training course that is intentionally challenging, as we put the recruits into scenarios they are likely to experience during their working life as serving firefighters.
“Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has a proud tradition of producing some of the country’s finest firefighters and long may that continue.
“We wish our firefighters all the best for the future and look forward to them serving the people of Tyne and Wear for years to come.”
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