GREAT FALLS – Great Falls Fire Rescue welcomed three new members to its ranks Tuesday night.
Travis Cik, Brett Castillo, and Ryan Olson took their firefighter oaths from Mayor Bob Kelly during Tuesday’s City Commission meeting.
The firefighters spent one month in recruitment class before spending eight months training on shift under strict supervision.
According to Fire Chief Steve Hester, the new firefighters are just at the start of their career and will continue to improve their skills to become better responders.
“We take what we do seriously,” he said. “It’s real important not only to the people we confirmed as firefighters, but to the community, that they know we don’t take what we’re entrusted lightly.”
Great Falls Fire Rescue consists of 63 uniformed firefighters, five chief officers, and three civilian personnel. All suppression firefighters are certified EMTs with 21 also certified as paramedics.
Reporting by Natalie McAlpine for MTN News
