Warren Fire Department honors cadets and new hires

WARREN — On Oct. 25, Warren Fire Department cadets and new hires gathered in the atrium of Warren City Hall for the swearing in and promotions ceremony.

A bagpiper led the cadets and new hires as they filed in to be recognized by the department, city officials, family and friends.

“Today we are here to recognize the achievements of our new fully certified firefighter paramedics and our equally important new hires into the department,” said Warren Fire Commissioner Wilburt “Skip” McAdams. “Approximately two years ago the fire department was in crisis.”

The crisis was 21 vacant budgeted positions along with nearly a dozen department employees expressing their intent to retire that year or the next year, explained McAdams.

“We have now a fully staffed or close to it fire department because of Skip McAdams and the cadet program,” said Warren Mayor James Fouts. “We were paying $3.5 million in overtime and now as a result of having new hires and the cadet program, we have reduced that $3.5 million to a reasonable (amount) under $1 million.”

Probationary firefighter/paramedic Jake Combs recently completed the cadet program and is excited to be on the job with the department.

“I grew up in Warren on 11 (Mile Road) and Ryan. I always wanted to be a firefighter. I don’t live in the city anymore, but coming back to the city I used to live in means a lot to be a firefighter where I grew up,” said Combs.

Being full time with the department since June, Combs counts the brotherhood of the department among his most memorable experiences so far.

“Just making new friends more like brothers, working with everybody,” said Combs.  “You are with them a third of your life. Making those memories is like a big family at the department.”

Firefighters must always stay ready for the call. This was exemplified by some of the cadets and new hires donning a radio across their chest or on their back during the ceremony.  According to new-hire probationary firefighter/paramedic Jake Haller, who was among those on duty, that would enable dispatch to contact them if necessary.

The probationary period for the cadet probationary firefighter/paramedics is two years. For the new-hire probationary firefighter/paramedics, it’s one year, McAdams said.

According to the commissioner, the cadets earn while they learn. Books and training are paid for by the Warren Fire Department. Once cadets pass all the necessary exams and are properly licensed, then they can become a firefighter/EMT-basic with a starting salary of $42,998 while they are still in the academy. When they complete their paramedic training, graduates of the academy start with a salary of $60,079. After four years, they can earn $87,340. The program takes two years to complete.

McAdams described the profession as one of service.

“They don’t do it for the money. They don’t do it for the recognition. They do it for the satisfaction of helping others,” said McAdams, in a previous interview.