Boston Fire Department Swears In Oversized Recruit Class at Florian Hall

BOSTON — July 19, 2026 — Boston Fire Department swears in an unusually large recruit class at Florian Hall. Fire Commissioner John Dempsey administered the oath of office Saturday morning to a new cohort of Boston firefighters, telling recruits the department typically swears in classes of around 60 but that this group is significantly larger, requiring extra patience during training. Mayor Michelle Wu told recruits they face 16 weeks of firefighter academy training and five weeks of EMT training — 21 weeks total — before deployment to firehouses across the city. Local 718 President congratulated the class and singled out the training staff by name, telling recruits to "keep your two ears open your one mouth shut" for their first year on the job.