12 Lincoln Fire & Rescue graduates receive their badges
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Twelve former recruits gathered at the Lincoln Firefighters Reception Hall on Tuesday to receive their badges and join Lincoln Fire & Rescue.
The recruit class, comprising four women and eight men, met the requirements set out by LFR before enduring 19 weeks of training.
“The past 19 weeks, you have been pushing yourself mentally and physically to be ready to take on one of the most important jobs in our community,” Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said during the ceremony. “That is, protecting lives, property and our environment here in Lincoln, Nebraska.”
The requirements include paramedic knowledge, solid physical abilities and a drive for community work, among other things.
During their training, recruits were pushed in a variety of scenarios to prepare them for real fires and paramedic responses.
“It was a lot of hard work and a lot of stuff in the heat,” recruit class speaker Amanda Morgan said. “Fires were the best. Jumping out of a second-story building was a great memory of mine. It was really fun because they push you really hard, and then they push you a little bit further, and you just keep going.”
The graduates are:
- Savannah Wright, Firefighter
- Jacob Wilderman, Firefighter
- Christopher Vigil, Firefighter
- Glenn Olsen, Firefighter/Paramedic
- Amanda Morgan, Firefighter
- Daniel Moore, Firefighter
- Nikki Loos, Firefighter
- Joshua Knutson, Firefighter/Paramedic
- Josh Higgins, Firefighter
- Austin Gregg, Firefighter
- Lindsay Donovan, Firefighter
- Kyle Arp, Firefighter/Paramedic
“Your training has not been easy because your job is not easy,” Gaylor Baird said. “You will be counted on to respond quickly, courageously and very efficiently. Tonight, you and your family have a reason to celebrate. You have earned your place.”
The graduates will be sent to stations across Lincoln to begin their careers as first responders.
The full graduation ceremony can be viewed on LNKTV.
