PRESS RELEASE

To: NEWSROOM

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Assistant To The Fire Chief

Nov. 17 - Shreveport to Graduate 49^th Basic Firefighter Class Tonight - including New Orleans Firefighter Recruits

The Shreveport Fire Department will graduate their 49^th Basic Training Class tonight (Thursday, November 17, 2005) at a 6:00 p.m. ceremony at Shreveport’s Municipal Auditorium . . .

The 14 Shreveport firefighter recruits will be joined on-stage tonight by nine New Orleans firefighter rookies who finished their training in Shreveport following the events of hurricane Katrina. The New Orleans recruits were six weeks into their training when the deadly hurricane hit the Crescent City, submerging and partially destroying their fire training center.

All off the recruits have completed training in a variety of fire and emergency disciplines, including fire science, advanced fire fighting, search and rescue, emergency medicine, and hazardous materials. Their graduation culminates 16 weeks of training. The Shreveport fire recruits will be given their station assignments at tonight’s graduation, with some reporting for work the next day. The New Orleans recruits will return home to the Crescent City and assist their department in the continuing recovery efforts.

New Orleans Fire Department Superintendent Charles Parent and members of his staff will be in attendance for tonight’s graduation. Chief Parent will deliver the keynote address. The following are the names of the graduates of the Shreveport Fire Department’s 49^th Basic Training Class:

Shreveport Fire Department: Thaddeus Bell, Peter Bolton, Mensah Davis, Ross Dee, Chris Elmore, Nick Garza, Logan Hunt, Vernon Jones, Calvin McCain, Kenny O’Briant, Sharon Sullivan, Eric Tyler, Tyler Williams, Jared Wright

New Orleans Fire Department: Peter Everett, George Guidry Jr., Jared Harrell, Marc Inoa, Paul King, Kenneth Matthews, Autumn Nurton, John VonHolven Jr., David Watkins

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