TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa Fire Department continues to train its newest class of recruits. Today, the cadets climbed their way to the top of several high fire ladders at the Tulsa Fire Department Safety Training Center.
The ladders were set at 100 feet, the equivalent of 10 stories.
Tulsa fire chief Michael Baker told FOX23 that these future cadets will climb many ladders in their career. However, this is more of a mind test. While they’re harnessed in, cadets are instructed to let go of the top rung and hold their arms open before coming down. This task must be completed before anyone can become a firefighter.
“It also pushes them and let’s them know what’s coming. That in this profession, you have to go beyond what you think you can do, you have to be brave at a moment’s notice,” said Baker.
60 cadets and 13 alternatives climbed the ladder. Seven of those are women. Chief Baker says this is the largest class of future cadets that the department has ever seen. It’s also the largest number of women involved in the program.
Despite this record-breaking class, the department will still be short-staffed by about ten positions. The pandemic has slowed down training of new recruits, and the department has experienced multiple retirements of first responders.
Future cadets will attend the academy in January and start protecting our streets by next summer. A $12 million dollar federal grant, known as “The Safer Grant” funded this class of cadets. It will pay their salaries for the next three years.