Five new firefighters graduated from the ESD 1 Academy

Andrew Mendez (left), Jake Lamberth, Jeremiah Delos Santos, Devante Covington and Matt Carroll, showing off the helmets they received June 7, are graduates of the inaugural class of the Wilson County Emergency Services District 1 firefighter academy. All five were honored in a ceremony attended by family and friends held at the district’s La Vernia station. Grzegorz RIPPS

Wilson County Emergency Services District (ESD) 1 graduated its first training academy class June 7 in a ceremony at La Vernia Station.

Graduates of the 18-week Academy include:

•Matt Carroll

•Devante Covington

•Jeremiah Delos Santos

•Jake Lamberth

•Andrew Mendez

As cadets, they trained 40 hours a day, five days a week, as well as some evenings and weekends.

“District 1 provided all of the training here in La Vernia with our own instructors,” Fire Chief Chris Thompson told La Vernia News. “ESD 3 conducted training for emergency medical technicians (EMT).”

Upon completion of training, cadets received certificates in the basics of emergency medical services and certificates from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as firefighters. After graduation, they also became full-time firefighters with District 1 Fire & Rescue, which provides coverage over 362 square miles in eastern Wilson County, including the towns of La Vernia and Stockdale and the communities of Sutherland Springs, Kicaster and Kosciusko.

Thompson thanked the ESD 1 board of commissioners for allowing the district to “train our own superstars.”

The ceremony also included the promotions of firefighters Hector Aleman, Dylan Forbes, Joe Moldenhauer, Ruben Puente and Kaid Qassom to drivers and Rolando Carrizales, Nick Lansford and Tristan Pacheco to lieutenants. Another person, Preston Davis, received a badge designating that firefighter as a member of District 1.

All firefighters present at the ceremony repeated the oath taken by former Wilson County Judge Richard L. “Dickie” Jackson, a member of the ESD 1 Advisory Board.