A dozen new firefighters officially joined the East Fork Fire Protection District in the single largest recruit class in district history. "This is all pretty exciting for the organization and certainly needed as the district starts to experience the 'retirement wave' over the next few years," said District Chief Tod Carlini. The new recruits will fill five vacancies due to retirements and employee resignations over the past eight months. Seven of the positions are new positions, reflecting an increase in staffing and allowing the district to staff all four of its paramedic engines with a crew of three. Carlini said three will be used to fill positions which would otherwise be filled by someone working overtime on an almost daily basis.