A new group of firefighters has officially joined Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service after completing their initial training, with the recruits now preparing to begin serving communities across the county – including Hitchin.

The 12 new firefighters graduated during a special passing out parade at the service's Longfield Training and Development Centre, watched by proud family, friends and colleagues. Over recent months they have completed an intensive training programme covering firefighting techniques, road traffic collision rescues, working at height, water rescue awareness, hazardous materials and emergency medical response.

The newly qualified firefighters will now take up positions at fire stations across Hertfordshire, helping to respond to emergencies and support community fire prevention work.

Chief Fire Officer Alex Woodman congratulated the recruits on reaching the milestone, praising the dedication and resilience they had shown throughout their training.

He said: "Becoming a firefighter takes commitment, teamwork and determination. You should all be incredibly proud of what you have achieved, and I know you will make a real difference to the communities you serve."

As well as responding to fires, Hertfordshire firefighters attend road traffic collisions, floods, rescues and other emergencies, while also carrying out home fire safety visits and educating residents about reducing fire risks.

The new recruits join the service as it continues to encourage more people to consider careers as wholetime and on-call firefighters.

Hitchin Fire Station, based on Newtons Way, operates as both a wholetime and on-call station, providing 24-hour emergency cover for the town and surrounding villages.

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