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STATEMENT BY CHIEF C. H. HILDEBRAND ATLANTA FIRE DEPARTMENT Friday, September 16, 1966 For Release 11 :00 A. M. 11 0 The City of Atlanta has in operation this morning 25 fully manned Fire Stations. · The t9tal personnel in the department has now risen to 357 -- 313 of these employees performing actual firefighting duties. Sixty-seven new recruits have b ee n assigned to stations for in-service training and duty under the l ead ership of experienced Firemen and Fire Officers. We are able to maintain an on-duty shift strength average of 175 firefighting personnel because of extended work hours of those Firemen who have remained on the job . Our attempts to recruit new men to rebuild the F ire .. Department have been extremely successful. Since 'Labor Day the City Personnel Departme nt has examined 327 applicants. �Page Two \\ 140 of these have passed the written examination and are being processed for in-service training and firefighting duties immediately. The Personnel Department is making plans to conduct a recruiting campaign throughout the Southeast and through the employment of new personnel and the extended work hours of our experienced personnel, we should be able to place the re..~ o ..--ci.. lo le... . remaining unmanned stations in operation within a :f€'f)" she-Pt 7 period of time. The Personnel Office at 260 C entral Avenue, S. W. is 0 remaining open until 7:30 p. m. Monday through Friday and until noon on Saturdays to receive and process firefighters applications. • _I am reques tin g a ll the citizens of Atlanta to practice good fire prevention measures in their home s, businesses, churches and schools. A check-off list is b eing rele as e d to the news media for self-inspection of your premises which, if conscientiously adhered to, can prevent fires and preserve property. �