The Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) is welcoming 75 new members — 66 firefighter/EMTs and nine paramedics — into its ranks after  firefighters/EMTs finish nine-month training program and paramedics train for 12 weeks.

This year was the first live audience fire department graduation after the start of the pandemic. The fire department also celebrated 150 years in 2021. This year was very different from recent graduations as paramedic and firefighter classes graduating at the same time is an infrequent event.                                                                                                                               

"This is an unusual extra special event because we usually don't have paramedic and firefighter classes graduating simultaneously. They've all worked so hard," Kathy Matheson, Communications Director for the Philadelphia Fire Department, told AL DÍA.

This year’s graduation ceremony was special for other reasons, as well. Captain Celicia Ortiz shared an anecdote about why it’s personally special for her.

"This graduation is very beneficial to the Latino community because half of the fire Cadet class, a little bit under half, is Hispanic," she told AL DÍA. 

"Today, the first brother and sister Latinos graduated from the academy together. Their parents, I and Fire Battalion Chief Hector Sierra are so happy for them," Ortiz said. "It is exciting for me to see them in their element. We are a family committed to community service. I have always believed in giving back to the communities that have helped to develop me. I have always tried to instill those same values in my kids. It is important to create generations of service."

The sibling duo spoke with AL DÍA, as well.

Sister and brother Maya Sierra and Kennieth Berrios are so happy they were there for each other when needed. Berrios says that he could not have done it without her. Sierra says they were there for each other when one didn't have lunch and the other's car broke down. 

"We had each other's backs the entire time," Berrios said.

Sierra noted that their parents didn't encourage them to chase careers in the Philadelphia Fire department and were not factors.

"We grew up in firehouses since we were babies. I was always in love with it but Maya was iffy," Berrios said.

"I went to school for computer science. I was ready to enter that field but I realized I wanted something where I could be more directly helping people. I've always been passionate about it. Growing up, I gave to the homeless and took part in Thanksgiving and clothing drives. Being in the PFD is like the highest form of being able to help because I'll be doing it every day," Sierra said. 

When Sierra was asked how she felt about working in a male-dominated field, she said it was hard, especially when proving people wrong. 

"Every step of the way, you have to prove people wrong. If a guy falls out of the run, he's made fun of. If a woman falls out of the run, it becomes a horrible statement that ‘women can't do it.’ I get upset when I fall out of the running. As a female, any minor thing gets blown out of proportion. We have to try our hardest in all temperatures, environments and scenarios," Sierra said. 

Five women graduated, they were all Hispanic and almost half the class was Hispanic. 

The PFD has said in the past that they want more multicultural diversity.

"I think that inclusion and diversity is critical in any successful organization, especially in emergency services. Philadelphia is so diverse and rich in culture. It will benefit our organization to represent and include everyone to better serve our customers during critical times,"Ortiz said.

The graduation ceremony ended with the message that the job isn’t easy, it’s among the most rewarding jobs to have. 

This ceremony marked the graduation of Firefighter/EMT Class 199 and Paramedic Class 40.