For second year, Boston swears in all-white firefighter class
Twenty-four new Boston firefighters were sworn in yesterday at Florian Hall in Dorchester. The Fire Academy graduates, including one who is 51 and four in their 40s, are the second all-white class in two years.
Last year, nine white firefighters graduated, officials said. Both classes were party to a 2003 federal appeals court ruling, which said that the Fire Department had achieved racial balance and must abandon its affirmative-action hiring policy.
Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Fire Commissioner Paul Christian spoke at yesterday's ceremony, congratulating the graduates and their families. Both stressed that all recruits passed the department's rigorous training.
''Fires today are more dangerous, believe it or not, than they were 40 years ago," Christian said. ''We train for this. . . . That's no small accomplishment."
Six firefighters from Weymouth, two from Chelsea, and two from Scituate also graduated and were honored at the ceremony.
In an interview, Christian said he will not let the court's decision prevent the Fire Department from maintaining diversity. ''The Boston Fire Department is going to recruit all across the city," he said. ''We're going to take every step to make sure the makeup of the department reflects the city we serve." 