FWFD graduates most diverse class of recruits in 129 years

Published on November 21, 2022

Fort Worth Fire Department’s Recruit Class No. 92 is the most diverse class in the history of the department. The 24 recruits graduated last Friday.

Some facts about the class:

• 71% of graduating class members are minorities.
• There are five females; all are mothers.
• There are five military veterans.
• Six of the graduates are directly related to active or retired members of FWFD.

Since becoming fire chief in the fall of 2018, Chief Jim Davis his made it a priority to diversify the department to be more representative of Fort Worth’s population. In the past four years, there has been a 46.34% increase in hiring Hispanic firefighters, 66.2% increase in hiring Black firefighters and a 291.67% increase in hiring female firefighters.

Changes in recruitment tactics and creating a strength and conditioning program designed for women has contributed greatly to the success of this diversification.

“I think the Fort Worth Fire Department is on the path to assure that the department reflects the community that it serves,” Davis said. “We’re excited to see these highly trained firefighters take to the streets and start their careers with our city.”

The Fire Training Academy for the Fort Worth Fire Department is a 36-week course. Class No. 92 is the final class graduating this year.

A date has not been set for the next recruit class in 2023.

Photo: Twenty-four recruits graduated from the Fire Training Academy last week.

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