Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Public Safety Director Fritz G. Fragé, Assistant Public Safety Director Rufus L. Jackson, and Chief of Fire Del Ortiz hosted a graduation of the 51st Recruit Class of the Newark Fire Division during a public ceremony held Friday, May 10, 2024, at the William Mobile Ashby Community Care and Training Center, 695 Bergen Street, Newark.
“The City of Newark is honored to welcome 78 new firefighters to serve its residents and visitors,” Mayor Baraka said. “These men and women are joining the ranks at an exciting time, as we plan to implement a squad of specially trained firefighters in the coming days. I trust that some who took their oath of office today will be among this elite team. I also believe that each firefighter sworn in today will go further than their predecessors in acquiring superior expertise for saving lives and property here in Newark.”
“Today, the Newark Department of Public Safety made history as this 51st class of firefighters is the biggest class of fire recruits to ever graduate from an academy statewide,” Director Fragé said. “Welcoming these 78 men and women into the Newark Fire Division is an important and necessary step in our rapidly growing city. We congratulate each new member and applaud them and their families for shouldering the responsibility of public safety for our neighbors and visitors.”
The 51st Recruit Class includes two younger cousins of the late Newark Fire Captain Augusto Acabou, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty on July 5, 2023.
The families of fallen Captains Acabou and Wayne Brooks, Jr. were greeted with a warm-hearted standing ovation during the ceremony. #newarknj #publicsafety #firefighters #graduation #newjersey
