The Danville Board of Fire and Police Commissioners have approved the appointments of eight new probationary firefighters, along with a new probationary police officer.
Danville Public Safety Director Larry Thomason says all of the appointments are subject to successfully completing physical and psychological tests. But if all goes well, Thomason says the new firefighters will be brought on board next month.
Four of the firefighter candidates have already completed training at the academy, so Thomason says they will not have to repeat that training. The other four will be going to training at the University of Illinois academy in March.
Six of the new firefighters are being hired with funds from a federal SAFER grant.
In addition to the appointments, the Commissioners also approved some promotions which had been requested by Director Thomason in the Fire Division. Don McMasters has been promoted to Assistant Chief, replacing Duane Hall who recently retired. Aaron Marcott is being promoted to Captain, and Christopher McMahon was promoted to Lieutenant. The appointments are effective immediately. Those who were promoted will report to their assigned shifts on Saturday.
‘’It’s always nice to get the manpower in the Divisions back to normal,’’ says Director Thomason. ‘’It’s particularly important for the safety of personnel,’’ he added. And Thomason says the new hires should help tremendously in reducing overtime expenditures.
