Francisco Hernandez wanted to work for Manteca Fire because his grandfather once was a farm worker in the Manteca countryside.

Ozell Thompson left a firefighter position in a major urban fire department in Charlotte, North Carolina for a better life for his family.

Tyler Ellkins, born and raised in Manteca, wanted to be a firefighter since he was 16 and enrolled in a CTE fire services exploratory program through Manteca High.

Tia Torino, Manteca’s first female full-time firefighter, wanted to help others. First she tried nursing, and then teaching grade school physical education — both things she loved doing — before she realized firefighting allowed her to combine two of her passions — serving others and staying fit.

That’s a quick look at four of the 10 newest members to be welcomed officially into the Manteca Fire family on Friday.

It was a day of historic firsts for the department whose full-time status dates back to 1958.

*It was the largest academy graduating class ever.

*It brought an entire engine company — nine firefighters for 24/7 coverage — on board at the same time. That has never happened.

*It also expanded the ranks of firefighters by 20 percent to a record 54.

Fire Chief Steven Islas and the rest of the command structure praised the 10 for their commitment, absorption of skills, and enthusiasm during the six-week academy.

Islas also lauded the grant writing prowess of battalion chief Travis Gooch that secured a federal grant that helped city leaders wed with Measure Q sales tax to bring aboard nine firefighters at once instead of having to ramp off staffing over multiple years.

“This does not happen without Measure Q and citywide support,” Islas said of the voter-approved three-quarter cent sales tax approved in November 2024.

Battalion Chief Sterrie McLeod noted the new firefighters will immediately bolster available frontline firefighter personnel to respond to emergency calls in Manteca.

They initially will be assigned to shadow the existing five engine company crews.

Then, on May 16, personnel will be shuffled and a sixth company will be in service, stationed out of the Union Road station.

Ellks was selected by his peers to deliver remarks on behalf of the academy graduating class.

“We built trust and worked together and built a unified team,” Ellks said of the six-week academy.

Vincet Rizzo was recognized for the exemplary standard he set for his fellow academy firefighters.

Rizzo has worked in three other departments with his last employment in Los Banos before joining Manteca Fire.

The other four firefighters filling the nine new positions are:

*Alexander Nand, who was raised in Modesto and worked with the Hughson and French Camp-McKinley fire departments.

*Jordan Palmer, who was raised in Escalon and worked with Cal Fire and then French Camp-McKinley before joining Manteca Fire.

*Joshua Pattee, who was raised in Brentwood and has worked for five years as a firefighter including in Sutter County.

*Charles Corn, who was raised in Oakdale and was with the Sugar Pine Fire Department based in Twain Harte prior to joining Manteca Fire.

There were more than 150 people in attendance at the graduation ceremony — including the entire City Council — to see City Clerk Cassandra Candini-Tilton administer the oath of office to 10 firefighters.

The 10th was Andrew Rossi who had been hired as a replacement firefighter and has been working.

“Three quarters of a cent is making it happen,” Mayor Gary Singh said of the Measure Q sales tax that ultimately will fund 100 percent of the benefits and salaries of the nine new firefighter positions. “Three quarters of a cent is paying off.”

The addition of the nine positions means the city will be able to move a fully staffed engines when the department’s six station is built in southwest Manteca withing the next two to three years.

Meanwhile, the additional engine company will be the second company stationed at Union Road.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com