Hillsborough County, Fla. (Aug. 20, 2026) - A call to serve others and an opportunity to make a difference in their community are among the motivations cited by members of the new Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) class who will become firefighters in the Recruit Class 2026-02 Graduation and Pinning Ceremony.
A total of 34 new firefighters with varying backgrounds will join the HCFR ranks at the ceremony Friday, Aug. 21.
The new firefighters will get their station and shift assignments during the ceremony, putting them in firehouses throughout Hillsborough County. They will also receive the HCFR shield for their helmet.
All graduates will begin their assignments Sunday, ready to fight fires, respond to emergency calls, and assist residents every day.
All the new firefighters joining HCFR have graduated from the Fire Academy and are certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). For the past six weeks, this recruit class has been through a Hillsborough-specific orientation to get them ready for their first days on the job.
HCFR has nearly 1,300 firefighters at 47 fire stations serving 1.1 million residents and 909 square miles of unincorporated Hillsborough County. HCFR responds to nearly 140,000 emergency calls annually, making it one of the top-performing fire rescue agencies in the Southeastern United States.
- Who: Hillsborough County Fire Rescue
- What: Recruit Class 2026-02 Graduation and Pinning Ceremony
- When: 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, 2026
- Where: Riverhills Church of God, 6310 E. Sligh Ave., Tampa, FL 33617