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Class 2/2022 saw a further 33 recruits pass out to become operational firefighters in October

The end of October saw this year’s second group of recruits pass out to become operational re ghters as Class 2/2022 took part in a graduation ceremony at the Training Centre.

Family and friends gathered on 26 October to watch the group of 33 recruits, ve of whom were from Cork City Fire Brigade, take part in a skills display before being awarded with their passout scrolls, with each of the Dublin Fire Brigade recruits now being assigned to stations across the city and county before starting the Paramedic side of their training.

Theme

Given the time of year, the recruits’ skills display took on a Halloween theme and entertained the crowds with demonstrations of their operational readiness across several disciplines and scenarios. ey also carried a seasonal warning around reworks safety, with the message of “Don’t buy, sell, or use them” presented by eight-year-old superhero Cian McKeown.

e Silver Axe award for best recruit went to R/F/F Gerard McKeown, but each of the recruits can be very proud of their achievement, and congratulations must go to all of them for completing the 18-week course, and best wishes to them as they start their careers.

As new faces joined the ranks of DFB, there was also a noticeable farewell, as A/Sub-O cer Paul Greene, who has guided many classes over the years at the Training Centre, had his last passout parade. He has been described by colleagues as “a legend who will be missed from future recruit training”.

Partnership

e partnership with Cork City Fire Brigade saw invaluable support from Cork-based instructors, and at the ceremony, the long tradition of friendship between the two services was noted when DFB Chief Fire O cer Keeley and Cork City Chief Fire O cer Ryan took part in a presentation to mark the cooperation between both brigades during the burning of Cork in 1920. at friendship and cooperation was also shown in the now-traditional charity fundraising endeavour taken on by the recruits, with the DFB and Cork City groups this year raising more than €10,000 for the BUMBLEance Children’s National Ambulance Service during their course.

Leeffey Challenge

e most notable fundraising event was the ingenious “Lee ey Challenge”, with recruits from Class 2/2022 taking on the challenge of an appropriatelydistanced 222km rowing race against each other on rowing machines, replicating the combined length of both rivers. at goes for their achievement in successfully coming through training to join their colleagues in re stations in Dublin and Cork. Well done to all!

A group of 16 recruits in all travelled to Cork while 17 stayed in Dublin, with each team starting their race on the rowing machines at the same time to see how far each could get.

Dubbed “the battle of the brigades” by tongue-in-cheek social media posts, the event on 1 October saw the recruits push each other on in a relay race to clock up the most kms. e Dublin-based recruits just edged the race, but in competing, the two teams brought in an impressive collection of donations to go to the very worthy cause, and congratulations must go to all involved for their tremendous achievements.