The Hawaii Fire Department held commencement exercises for its 42nd Firefighter Recruit Class on April 12 at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.
The new firefighters are: Kyle Muin, Chad Rapozo, Michael Masuda, Monalisa Durkan, Dave Yamagata Jr., Tai Scarbrough, Riley Archibald, Kristopher Armijo, Neil Cho, Adam Tabieros, Alan McShane Jr., Kala Haasenritter and Joseph Glory Jr.
The class underwent 12 months of intensive instruction/classroom exercises and fieldwork that included fire and rescue training that is part of a nationally recognized fire science curriculum, wildland fire training, rescue operations familiarization, aquatics competency certification and driver training, according to the department.
The last portion of the firefighter recruit training was spent at the Emergency Medical Services Training Center where the firefighters worked to earn their Emergency Medical Technicians Basic certification. The entire EMT program lasts approximately nine to 10 weeks. The firefighters also spent about four weeks on clinical rotations at various stations including the Kailua and Keauhou fire stations in West Hawaii as well as in the emergency goom, obstetrics and intensive care units at Hilo Medical Center and Kona Community Hospital.
The new firefighters have received their first station assignments at the Central, Honokaa, South Kohala, Kailua, Keauhou, North Kohala, Kawailani, Pahoa, and Captain Cook stations.