Columbia Fire Department Basic Recruit School 26-1 Graduation Ceremony - July 31, 2026
Columbia Fire Department Basic Recruit School 26-1 Graduation Ceremony - July 31, 2026
On July 31, 2026, the Columbia Fire Department held a graduation ceremony for Basic Recruit School 26-1, marking the completion of the training program. The ceremony included speeches, an oath of office, badge presentation, and awards. The program length was reported as 21 weeks by Chief Grace and later as 18 weeks by Battalion Chief Gorn, a discrepancy noted in the transcript. Nine recruits were expected to graduate; eight were named during the badge presentation.
Opening & Pledge
- Assistant Fire Chief Zachary Grace welcomed attendees and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Special guest Mayor Buffalo was recognized.
Keynote Remarks
- Fire Chief Brian Schaefer delivered a speech emphasizing the four pillars (attitude, effort, performance, teamwork) and the four promises: to the public, to the craft of firefighting, to each other, and to family. He urged graduates to treat every call with importance, stay humble, and build trust through consistent conduct.
- Battalion Chief of Training Tommy Gorn recognized the training team: instructors Tony Bannister (retired, 21 years), Michael Holtz (retired, 24 years), and Captain Jake Hine. He spoke about the growth of the recruits and the importance of continuous learning and accountability.
Oath of Office and Badge Presentation
- The nine recruits recited the oath of office, pledging to uphold the values of the Columbia Fire Department.
- Fire Chief Schaefer and family members pinned badges on the graduates. The following eight firefighters were named: Trenton Bowles, Timothy De La Mora, Quinn Fullington, Colin Hegerfeld, Cody Canutson, Trenton Letterly, Alex Mueller, and Luke Young. The ninth graduate was not named in the transcript.
Awards
- Two awards were presented: the Bruce Britt Award (distinguished graduate voted by peers) and the Hector Crumb Award (top academic performer). Both awards were given to Timothy De La Mora, as per the transcript.
Slideshow
- A video slideshow summarizing the 18-week academy was shown.
Key Outcomes
- Nine recruits graduated from Basic Recruit School 26-1 and officially became firefighters of the Columbia Fire Department.
- Timothy De La Mora received both the Bruce Britt Award and the Hector Crumb Award.
- The department is already planning for Basic Recruit School 26-2.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. If you're please able, stand, place your right hand over your heart, and let's recite the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, for which it stands one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Recruit you may be seated. What's that? Good evening, everyone. My name is uh Zachary Grace. I have the privilege of serving as the City of Columbia's assistant fire chief. On behalf of the City of Columbia Fire Department, it's my honor to welcome you all to the BRS 26-1 recruit graduation. Today is a special occasion as we celebrate the hard work, dedication, and achievements of our graduates. To our guests, instructors, families, and friends, thank you for joining us and for your unwavering support. Your encouragement has played an important role in helping these graduates reach where they're at today. I would like to take a moment to recognize our special guest, Mayor Buffalo. Give a round of applause. To the graduates of BRS 26-1, congratulations. Your commitment and perseverance have brought you to this proud moment. As you move forward to new opportunities and challenges, may you continue to strive for excellence. Make a positive and make a positive difference wherever you go. Once again, congratulations. I would now like to invite up Chief Schaefer for some remarks. You do not have to clap. Well, good evening. Uh, my name's Brian. I'm the 13th Fire Chief for the City of Columbia Fire Department, and it is my absolute pleasure to be a part of your evening tonight. This has been uh this has been a rough road for the gentleman uh to my left. I'm gonna speak directly to them. I've got a lengthy, uh lengthy discussion, but the fire the fire service is all about tradition and uh meaning. So this what I'm going to tell them has specific meaning. So today you're going to receive the outward signs of your new profession. The badge, the jewelry, as we like to make fun of them, the little collarbass, the name tags, the patches. That's the outward. And you've worked really hard for them. You've endured long days, you've uh suffered through demanding drills, you've been uh evaluated very differently, different difficultly. Uh you've had some tough muscles and definitely some moments of uncertainty. You've been tested of in as individuals and as a class, and today, right now, you have every reason to be very proud. But before you accept the congratulations, take a moment to recognize the people that really made this day possible. All the instructors, I'm looking at them, that invested their time, their knowledge, their experience, and their energy in you. It takes a lot to build this class, and believe it or not, this this class is 2026-1 for a reason. Guess what? There's a 2026-2 right on the heels of them. So they're already working on that, and it takes a lot of time. Uh, your families, they adjusted their schedules, they changed their plans, they accepted your absences, and they actually encourage you when the academy demanded more than you thought it had left. So, graduates, you completed the fire academy, but this achievement belongs partly to them as well. The uniform you put on today represents a lot more than just successful completion of this 21. Got it right this time, 21 weeks. Those promises aren't printed on the badge, though. They're not going to appear in uh policy manual. And what I what I really talked about in the beginning of every class, and this time I think I missed yours, was the four pillars. Who gave the speech for the four pillars?
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