APTOS — In a ceremony that drew nearly 100 people on Friday afternoon, Watsonville Fire Department and Central Fire Protection District welcomed their newest members in Twin Lakes Church’s Monscke Hall.
The graduation ceremony featured three new firefighters to Watsonville Fire Department, and two to Central Fire.
The recruits were fresh from an intensive, 16-week academy taught by captains from both departments. They will now be probationary firefighters for about one year.
In his address to the audience, WFD Chief Pablo Barreto said that Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter Kelly Wong was killed in a training exercise on the same day the training academy began here.
Wong left behind an infant son.
And so Barreto told the recruits to look into Wong’s life, and return with a report, which he said was a way to put into perspective the risks inherent to the job.
“This reminded us that training is also risky,” Barreto said. “That’s why they have all gone through a 16-week academy before we allow them to serve you, our community.”
Barreto told the recruits that they must rely on each other, and on the intensive training they completed.
At the same time, they must also know when to turn to their friends and family as they adapt to the difficult job.
Barreto also asked the community to support its emergency workers.
“We’ve done our best to support them, to train them, to be the best firefighters and leaders,” Barreto said. “Your duty as a community is to support emergency workers … Reach out to them and give them understanding and support, a caring touch.”
Barreto told the new firefighters to demonstrate “human kindness,” on and off duty.
“Go forward to your long career and be the best trained, be a leader but mostly be a part of the community you serve by giving back,” he said.
