Ankeny Firefighters Sworn In to Service

Nine individuals joined the full-time ranks of the at a formal swearing-in ceremony, held at the fire station headquarters last night.

These firefighters, along with two full-time firefighters currently with the department and promoted to engineers, will make up the second engine company for Ankeny’s fire station No. 2. The ceremony bore a particular significance for the community, as city leaders say it marked another step towards the achievement of the city’s long term public safety goals.

“We have placed a high priority on keeping our community safe,” Mayor Steve Van Oort said. “With the development of initiatives that have increased response times, adding fire services 24 hours a day, seven days a week with full staffing of fire station No. 2, makes it all a reality.”

For the firefighters sworn in, the ceremony marked a significant career achievement. In his opening remarks, Fire Chief Rex Mundt praised the new group, as well as the department.

“This is a unique and talented bunch of young men,” Mundt said. “This department requires a high level of skill and dedication and these individuals represent that commitment to service.”

While Mundt praised the firefighters for their dedication, the ceremony also recognized the importance of each firefighter’s support system. A longstanding tradition of a swearing-in ceremony is to have a family member pin the department badge on the firefighter.

“Each individual firefighter makes a commitment to public service, but we also recognize it takes a commitment on the part of a firefighter’s family, to support him or her in their work,” Mundt said. “The firefighter’s family is part of the package that makes this department effective.”

Moving forward, the department will begin the process of hiring more paid on-call staff members to replace those who joined the full time ranks as early as next week.

Recruitment information will be available online next week at www.ankenyiowa.gov.