A new generation of firefighters have passed their firefighter training today (Friday) after one of the largest recruitment drives in recent years.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) are proud to announce that 32 of our latest recruits that started their training at Service Headquarters in Washington back in September have now passed out and are fully fledged firefighters.

The trainee firefighters began their 12-week training programme back in the autumn and have been learning the skills needed to keep communities safe and respond to emergencies in the region.

This was the fourth cohort of recruits to join the organisation since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, with 64 new firefighters already working on the front line.

The recruits have undergone weekly exams to test them on the information they had learnt throughout the week. This was coupled by a rigorous fitness regime of cardio and weights.

Chief Fire Officer Chris Lowther has today (Friday) congratulated the new recruits and welcomed them as part of the TWFRS family.

He 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 in to scenarios they are likely to experience during their working life as serving firefighters.

“TWFRS 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.”

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority Chair, Councillor Tony Taylor, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many new recruits joining Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service today.

“Their training is incredibly tough but it prepares them for a lifetime of keeping our community safe not just fighting fires but the vital role they play in educating the public about the risks from fire, water and road.

“Today I congratulated them on their hard work and wish them all the best for the future.”

Their training involved how to operate a fire pump, hose running, Road Traffic Collison (RTC) rescue, First Aid, delivering educational visits, and much more.