Events
New Firefighters Ready for the Front Lines
RALEIGH, N.C. (June 17, 2025) – Twenty new firefighters are ready to step up to the front lines. The cadets are the latest graduates of the Career in a Year Fire Academy, a partnership between Wake Tech and Wake County.
More than 200 family and friends celebrated Wednesday as graduates proudly received their firefighter badges, certificates and awards during a special ceremony at Wake Tech's Scott Northern Wake Campus. All the new firefighters are employed with area departments, including Northern Wake, Wake New Hope, Wendell and Zebulon.
"Tonight is a celebration of your dedication, hard work and commitment of courage," said Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls. "Thank you for making the choice to serve and protect our communities as firefighters."
"We are incredibly proud of the achievements of our Fire Academy graduates, both past and present," said Wake County Fire Services and Emergency Management Director Darrell Alford. "Thanks in large part to our extraordinary partnership with Wake Tech, Career in a Year has become a program that not only delivers clear results but also empowers dedicated people who are willing to step up to serve and protect their communities."
Amoni Ashby, who will be starting her career as a sworn firefighter for the Town of Wendell, offered fellow graduates advice and encouragement.
"This job is not about chasing glory. It's about serving others and helping everyone," said Ashby. "We learned more than just the technical skills of firefighting; we also discovered the profound meaning of joining the fire service's brotherhood and sisterhood. We'll carry the lessons we've learned with us for our entire careers."
The Career in a Year program is open to anyone who has the heart and desire to fight fires and ensure the safety of Wake County residents, whether they have volunteer fire experience or are interested in starting a new career. If selected for the program, recruits earn a full salary and benefits while training to become a certified firefighter.
The 38-week course includes certifications in firefighter, hazardous materials, incident command system, rapid intervention and technical rescuer. Graduates also receive basic EMT certification.
The next Career in a Year Fire Academy starts in January 2026. Recruitment is now open.
Learn more about Fire Services at Wake Tech.
