Fire Department Gets 276 New Members

Staten Island Advance 6/30/2008

The FDNY expanded its ranks during a graduation ceremony this morning, as 276 "probies" became full-fledged firefighters. Mayor Bloomberg and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta presided over the affair, which took place at the Colden Center at Queens College. The new graduates include 35 members of the military -- including Probationary Firefighter Christopher Little, who is currently serving his second mission with the Marines in Iraq. His family attended graduation ceremony in his absence. Other graduates include Matthew Sweeney. His brother, Firefighter Brian Sweeney of Rescue 1, died in the line of duty on 9/11. The new firefighters recently completed an expanded, more rigorous 23-week training program at the department's Randalls Island academy. "Today is a proud day for New York City as we welcome 276 probationary firefighters into the ranks of the FDNY," Bloomberg said. "You are one of the first classes to receive the exceptional 23 weeks of training at the academy, and I know it has prepared you for any type of emergency you may encounter."