Verona, Cedar Grove Welcome Newest Firefighters

Three new firefighters have joined the ranks of Verona and Cedar Grove's bravest, part of the first-ever graduating class from the brand new Essex County Fire Academy.

A graduation ceremony was held on Thursday, Sept. 8 at the Academy on Grove Avenue in Cedar Grove.

Chris Scheper, the newest member of the VFD, has been assigned to Engine Company #1. Cedar Grove also had 2 firefighters graduate from the Essex County Fire Academy, Zachary Lynch and Darin Keeper. The men were among nine firefighters from surrounding Essex County towns including Verona, Cedar Grove, Caldwell, Roseland, and Bloomfield in the very first graduating class.

It has taken over 30 years to get the Essex County Fire Academy off the ground and it is part of the Police Academy in Cedar Grove. The academy is also using the VFD's training facility on Commerce Court for all of its pratical exercises.

The Verona and Cedar Grove Fire Departments are both all-volunteer units who respond to hundreds of calls per year.

Congratulations to the graduating firefighters.