Fire Recruit Academy Takes “First Alarm Run” Through Downtown

Published on February 04, 2026

Recruits 26-01 First Alarm Run.jpg
On Wednesday morning, February 4, the City’s Fire Recruit Academy participated in a First Alarm Run, a meaningful team-building and training event designed to connect new firefighters with the community they serve and the history of the department they are joining.
 
The First Alarm Run served as the recruits’ physical training for the day while also providing their first immersive introduction to downtown Medford. Along the route, recruits stopped at key locations tied to significant calls, major incidents, and defining moments in the Fire Department’s history—highlighting events that had lasting importance for the community and the department.


“This experience is about grounding our recruits in the responsibility they are stepping into,” said Fire Chief, Eric Thompson. “It helps them understand the community, the work that has come before them, and the impact this profession has beyond the fire station.”

Throughout the run, recruits learned about impactful incidents from the department’s history ranging from major emergency responses to moments of profound loss, including firefighters lost in the line of duty. These stops included symbolic and honorable mentions that recognize service, sacrifice, and teamwork. The experience reinforces physical readiness, strengthens bonds within the recruit class, and builds a shared sense of purpose as they move forward together in the academy.

The First Alarm Run symbolizes a recruit’s first connection to the community they will serve and a commitment to learning the history, responsibility, and teamwork that define the fire service.
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