Eighty-three new firefighters have joined the Providence Fire Department with their graduation from the training academy Monday. It's the department's most diverse recruiting class. It’s also its largest ever, which is the result of a big shortage in firefighters on the department. More than 100 firefighters retired in the past couple of years after Mayor Jorge Elorza imposed a controversial shift change in 2015. Elorza argued then that firefighters were on an overtime “gravy train” and that his move would save at least $5 million a year. He maintains that position now.