Five new firefighters officially began their careers in the fire service today, January 24, 2026, after graduating from the Santa Cruz County Regional Fire Academy and reporting for duty as Probationary Firefighters.
Gabriel Carrillo, Sergio Ibarra, Gabriel Maloon, Reese Borman, and Emmanuel Mendoza completed the fire academy following 17 weeks and 584 hours of intensive classroom instruction and hands-on training. Their training covered core firefighting skills, emergency medical response, rescue operations, and fireground safety, preparing them to meet the demands of the profession.
Following graduation, the Firefighters will enter a 12-month probationary period. During this time, they will continue to develop their skills while being formally evaluated every three months to ensure they meet the department’s operational standards, values, and expectations.
The department also recognized a significant milestone for Firefighter Reese Bormann, who self-sponsored his academy training and was officially offered a position with the department upon graduation. His dedication and perseverance exemplify the commitment required to succeed in the fire service.
Department leadership congratulated the new firefighters on reaching this major professional milestone and welcomed them as they begin serving and protecting the community.