Chicago – December 01, 2025
Mayor Brandon Johnson and Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt presided over the graduation ceremony for 70 new firefighter EMTs and paramedics at the Robert Quinn Fire Academy in Chicago. Held at Navy Pier’s Aon Grand Ballroom, the ceremony marked the completion of a six-month intensive training program for the 55 firefighter EMTs and 15 paramedics. These new first responders will begin their assignments later this month and be deployed to firehouses based on department needs and a lottery system.
Fire Commissioner Nance-Holt praised the graduates for their commitment to service, noting that joining the Chicago Fire Department means stepping up when others step back to keep communities safer. Mayor Johnson thanked the graduates for answering the call to serve, highlighting their essential role in the city’s mission to build safer, thriving neighborhoods.
This graduating class reinforces the Chicago Fire Department’s dedication to enhancing public safety through well-prepared personnel. Applications to become a paramedic with the department remain open until Tuesday night for those interested in joining this life-saving profession.
