THEY are the men and women who could save your life.

The next generation of heroic firefighters graduated in the first ceremony for eight years.

The 27 new full-time firefighters - one female and 26 male - have completed an intensive course designed to instil in them the skills they will need to battle blazes in homes and buildings around Hampshire.

Speaking at the ceremony chief officer Dave Curry said he was “proud” of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service as “one of the best in the world” and congratulated the graduates - who made it through a selection process which saw 1,000 members of the public apply in just 48 hours.

He said the recruitment drive will now happen “year on year”.

He also welcomed the families of the new firefighters saying “they play a really important part in a firefighter’s life”, and added: “During the trainees’ time with the academy they have learnt how to work as part of a team, developing their situational awareness and decision-making alongside the varied technical skills and extra qualities required to be part of a leading modern fire service.”

Group manager for learning and development Ty Whitlock said: “The role of the firefighter has changed in recent years and those entering the service now have to learn a diverse range of skills.

“The modern firefighter has to be able to put out fires and cut people out of cars but they also have to be able to deliver life-saving medical care and impart vital safety messages.

“The hard work, determination and professionalism of our new recruits is admirable and I am sure they will uphold the finest traditions of the service.”

The course covered firefighting in all forms from high-rise to wildfires, learning how to use ultra-high pressure lances, foam and advanced hose reel techniques while also learning about road traffic collisions, animal and water rescues, rescues from height and working in confined spaces.

The trainees were given medical training to enable them to administer life-saving immediate emergency care at incidents and were also trained in safe and well visits, falls prevention and community safety events.

Each of the new firefighters has now been assigned to a station, but their training programme will continue for almost two years.

Beyond this they will continue to hone their skills with regular drills as well as developing specialist knowledge in a variety of fields.

Firefighter Tom Hall, 29, who lives in Southsea and will be drafted to Fareham Fire Station, was previously a communications co-ordinator for HFRS.

He said: “It is hard to believe the changes that I have seen in myself during this course. Just 16 weeks ago I was an untrained person dreaming of being a firefighter whereas I now feel confident going on to a station and building on my skills.”

Gareth Hitchcoe, Michael Penny and Francis Long will be additions to Hightown while David Hammett will be joining St Mary’s. Simon Weston is joining Eastleigh, Thomas Ventress will start at Winchester and Callum Feltham will join Andover.