The St. John’s Regional Fire Department has 17 new firefighters.

The department welcomed its newest class of recruits yesterday with friends and family present.

Fire Chief Sherry Colford says most recruits have to take the test multiple times. She says the level of skill they are seeing in recruits year after year is very high.

She says when they walk in the door, they don’t leave until they’re ready for retirement, so the fire department looks for the best of the best.

“And I think we’ve got the best of the best.”

Melanie Barnes is the only woman in this year’s crop.

She says the work put into the process is “immense” and she is very happy to join the force after a long road.