Bismarck, N.D. – The Bismarck Fire Department has officially welcomed three new firefighters to active shift duty following their successful graduation from the New Recruit Fire Academy. Miles Mainey, Taylor Schwede, and Clay Roberts have each earned their Firefighter 1 certifications, meeting the core qualifications for entry-level emergency response roles.

The department announced that the new recruits will be assigned as follows:

  • A Shift: Miles Mainey

  • B Shift: Taylor Schwede

  • C Shift: Clay Roberts

Their academy graduation marks the beginning of their professional careers as first responders for the city of Bismarck.

The recently concluded academy was a joint training effort in partnership with the Mandan Fire Department, which enrolled two of its own recruits—Hunter Beckert and Matthew Pazanin—to train alongside the Bismarck firefighters. The collaborative training approach reflects a growing trend among regional departments to streamline instruction and reinforce consistency in firefighting standards across jurisdictions.

All five recruits received comprehensive instruction and hands-on experience in key firefighting skills, including emergency response, search and rescue operations, fire suppression, and hazardous materials awareness. The program is designed to prepare new personnel for the demanding challenges they will face in the field.

“The collaboration between departments strengthens and promotes consistency in training across jurisdictions,” a department spokesperson said, emphasizing the importance of shared training efforts in improving regional public safety.

The Bismarck Fire Department extended congratulations to Hunter and Matthew on completing the program and expressed appreciation to the Mandan Fire Department for its continued partnership.

With their training behind them, the new firefighters are now on the front lines, contributing to their departments and communities with the knowledge, discipline, and readiness gained through the academy.

The department encourages the public to join in welcoming these new firefighters as they begin their service.