October 3
Update. See these photos and video recordings:
September 24
On Wednesday night, September 27, thirty-six new firefighters will join the ranks of the Raleigh Fire Department. Recruit Academy 42 will graduate in a ceremony at 7:00 p.m. at the Fletcher Opera Theater in the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. South Street.
The new firefighters have completed over 1,000 hours of classroom, practical and physical fitness training. Each of them will be certified by the State of North Carolina as a Firefighter Level II, Emergency Medical Technician, and Hazardous Materials Responder I.
Their 32-week academy started on February 20. And in a change from prior academies, fire training preceding EMT training, instead of following it. Most of their instruction was conducted at the Keeter Training Center in downtown Raleigh. Click to enlarge:
Mike Legeros photo
Names and Faces
Back row, left to right:
- Brady A. Alton – Greensboro, NC
- Jason A. Rumpler – Boynton Beach, FL
- Colby T. Stepp – Zebulon, NC
- John R. Atkins – Lillington, NC
- Joseph E Jensen – Wake Forest, NC
- Dalton S. Tant – Bailey, NC
- Jared P. Mickschl – La Crosse, WI
- Mitchell A. Mallory – Raleigh, NC
- Matthew C. Carithers – Four Oaks, NC
- Andrew M. Perlak – Greentown, PA
- Joshua A. Fritz – North Tonawanda, NY
Middle row, left to right:
- Matthew G. Bledsoe – Raleigh, NC
- Justin B. Hales – Zebulon, NC
- Justin T. Casey – Goldsboro, NC
- Daniel W. Dean – Raleigh, NC
- Paul R. Krahe – Raleigh, NC
- Joshua M. Lull – Raleigh, NC
- Brandon M. Baucom – Wilson’s Mills, NC
- Steven C. Merritt – Wendell, NC
- Ross M. Hope – Miami, FL
- Austin J. Partin – Pittsboro, NC
- De’Quantia Jones – Augusta, GA
- Robert E. Jones – Clayton, NC
Front row, left to right:
- Brannden C. Campbell – Zebulon, NC
- Johnathan T. Headen – Siler City, NC
- Devin R. Callahan – Wake Forest, NC
- Andre M. Fanto – Goldsboro, NC
- Brett E. Siebel – Wake Forest, NC
- Hannah R. Canterbury – Clayton, NC
- Chase A. Golden – Pittsboro, NC
- Jeremiah J. Davis – Raleigh, NC
- Lebro C. Burnette – Queens, NY
- Mary E. King – Wendell, NC
- Bruce N. Rice – Wake Forest, NC
- Lamarr P. Davis – Knightdale, NC
- Jason E. Finnegan – New Canaan, CT
Family Connections
- Alton – Brother-in-law of Firefighter Adam Walker
- Atkins – Son of Capt. Chris Atkins
- Baucom – Second cousin of Capt. Jerry Ward
- Callahan – Stepson of Capt. Dominic Orlando
- Campbell – Son of Capt. Doug Campbell
- Hales – Nephew of Asst. Chief/Fire Marshal Keith Tessinear, nephew of Battalion Chief David Whitley
- Merrit – Cousin of Lt. Glenn Todd, Firefighter Harrison Todd, and Firefighter Joe Montague
- Partin – Nephew of Capt. Phil Morgan
- Siebel – Son of Capt. Richard Siebel
- Tant – Son of Capt. Anthony Tant.
Raleigh Fire Department Explorer Post
- Krahne – Former member.
Other Fire Department Connections
- Archer Lodge FD – Canterbury, volunteer
- Bailey FD – Tant, volunteer
- Corinth Holders FD – Hales, volunteer
- Durham FD – Dean, former career member
- Elroy FD – Casey, volunteer
- Four Oaks FD – Carithers, volunteer
- Greensboro FD – Alton, former career member
- Hampden Township FD (Pennsylvania) – Perlak, former career member
- Lillington FD – Atkins, volunteer
- Little River FD – Jones, volunteer
- Marine Crops crash-fire-rescue – Rumpler, former career member
- New Canaan FD (Connecticut) – Finnegan, former volunteer
- Philadelphia FD – Mickshl, former career member
- Silk Hope FD – Partin, volunteer
- Stony Hill FD – Jensen, volunteer
- Swift Creek FD – Bledsoe, volunteer
- Wake Forest FD – King, former career member
- Wake Forest FD – Mallory, volunteer
- Wilson’s Mills FD – Baucom, volunteer
- Zebulon FD – Stepp, volunteer
Historical Perspective
See this page of fire academy photos, from 1978 to 2016. Click a picture for information on each year’s graduating firefighters.