Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins swore in 32 new full-time firefighters with the department as commencement exercises for CRFD Recruit Class 2021-01 were held on the evening of Wednesday, December 22 at Dreher High School.
29 members of class 21-01 were officially badged by Chief Jenkins after completing weeks of training at the department’s fire academy. Three volunteer firefighters with the department were also recognized as they completed required training to become full-time firefighters with CRFD.
“I have the honor of presiding over these graduations every year and with each one the sense of immense pride I have in our recruits is just as strong,” Chief Jenkins said, “Completing weeks of training at our academy is no small feat but another class of our recruits has done it at a time when the world is continuing to face major hurdles due to the ongoing health crisis. I applaud these newly sworn firefighters and I look forward to following their careers with CRFD in the months and years ahead.”
Several awards were handed out during the ceremony to recruits who performed exceptionally well during their training. Recruit Ryan Sesty was honored with the Maltese Cross Award while Recruit Demetrius Gardner received the Bryan P. Roberts Academic Achievement Award.
Friends and family members of the recruits were able to attend the graduation. All guests in attendance were required to wear masks and adhere to COVID-19 preventative guidelines.
(left: CRFD Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins with Recruit Demetrius Gardner; right: Chief Jenkins with Recruit Ryan Sesty)
The Columbia-Richland Fire Department extends its congratulations to our new full-time firefighters.
CRFD FIREFIGHTER RECRUIT CLASS 2021-01
Mikiah Baker Eduardo Mora
Elijah Blackwelder Trenton O’Rafferty
Joshua Campor William Oswalt
John Christmus Alexander Papalazarou
Hailey Crawford Dustin Parthemore
Taylor Crews Ryan Sesty
Nicholas Demko Braeden Slater
Robert Tremain Durant Trever Sulser
Nicholas Finley Tristan Tucker
Scott Fostel Waylon Wolcott
William Gambrell William Young IV
Demetrius Gardner
Isaiah Gates
Omar Flores Gill
Benjamin Hogue
Donovaun Jamison
Daniel Johnson
Chandler Miles
VOLUNTEER TRANSFERS
Desiree Colon Justin Gallman Nathan Phillips