Indiana Department Adds Nine New Firefighters

April 10--TERRE HAUTE -- Terre Haute has a new group of firefighters, the first for the city in two years.

The nine new firefighters sworn in Monday are Matthew Osborne, Zachary Beckner, Brenton Lloyd, Christopher Overpeck, Andrew Lumaye, Joshua Cottrell, Bert Hay, Bram Sanders and Joshua Blackwell.

The city began the interview process nearly two years ago with 260 applicants. That list was narrowed to 32 and then to 10, said City Fire Chief Jeff Fisher. The 10th firefighter is expected to pass required tests within a week and will then be sworn into duty, Fisher said.

With the 10 new firefighters, Terre Haute will have 144 firefighters, Fisher said, with a city budget for 147 firefighters. However, under rules of the fire department's merit system, the city cannot replace firefighters until there are at least five vacancies, Fisher said.

"With the Merit Board, we do an application process every two years," Fisher said. "It is a tough, lengthy process. With firefighters retiring, we got down in our numbers, but are now back up to where we need to be."

Five of the new firefighters, Fisher said, come from other fire departments, such as in Sullivan and even from the city of Gary.

"Some come from the [Emergency Medical Services] field, with no firefighting experience at all. Firefighting is a tradition that is hundreds of years old. It is a career that is proud and one that is full of sacrifices. You are away from home a lot. We work a 24-hour shift and are off 48 [hours]. A lot of these guys will work a day-off job.

"These new guys will be training eight hours a day, for the next several months, basically their first year," Fisher said.

Mayor Duke Bennett swore in the new firefighters.

Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger @tribstar.com.

Copyright 2012 - The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.