Rural/Metro will assign 12 recently graduated firefighters to Fountain Hills as part of an upgrade of ambulances to rescue units.

The 12 graduated at a ceremony on Sept. 24 and were welcomed in comments from Mayor Linda Kavanagh.

Earlier this year Rural/Metro agreed to upgrade Fountain Hills transports to rescue units, a designation that calls for the ambulance crew to be certified firefighters.

Since June the selected personnel have been undergoing academy training to earn their firefighter certification.

Assistant Fire Chief Dave Ott said all the candidates have proven themselves capable and will now begin their probationary period.

The candidates have spent two days a week in the academy for the past 12 to 14 weeks. They are receiving their Firefighter I and Firefighter II certifications.

The trainees also received ongoing training with the on-duty firefighter crews in Fountain Hills. They were out on drill two hours every morning.

Going forward the personnel manning the ambulances that respond in Fountain Hills will be certified firefighters as well as EMTs and paramedics. That has not been the case in Fountain Hills for several years.

Fire Chief Randy Roberts said the situation with non-firefighters on the ambulances has meant that the crew could be of little assistance on an active fire scene.

Roberts said this is another positive for the department as the existing firefighters were also getting the additional drill time to hone their skills.

“The crews are drilling anyway, this gives them more opportunity,” Roberts said.

The change to the rescue units will add four firefighters to each crew working daily in Fountain Hills.

“This is a huge plus for the community,” Roberts said.

Ott said the ambulance units are undergoing some physical modifications to accommodate firefighter equipment before going into service.