Myrtle Beach Fire Department Hosting Graduation On June 14

From the City of Myrtle Beach: The public is invited to attend the Myrtle Beach Fire Department’s 31st Recruit School Firefighter Graduation set for 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 14, at the General Robert H. Reed Recreation Center, 800 Gabreski Lane.

The graduation celebrates new firefighters who complete weeks of classroom and active training to prepare them for life as a Myrtle Beach firefighter.

This year’s guest speaker is retired New York Firefighter Jeff Cool. Cool was an active member of what the fire service community refers to as “Black Sunday,” July 23, 2005. On this day, a deadly fire erupted in New York City and took the lives of Lieutenant Curt Meyran and Firefighter John Bellew. The fire forced four others, including Jeff Cook, to jump from a fourth-floor window of the burning building. All four suffered life-threatening injuries, with Firefighter Joey DiBenardo later passing away from his sustained injuries.

Jeff Cool retired from the New York Fire Department’s Company #3 in 2006 and travels around the country as a public speaker.