Seven new firefighters will officially join the ranks at the Lafayette Fire Department according to Lafayette Fire Department Spokesman Alton Trahan via a press release. Trahan says that the new additions have spent sixteen weeks working a rigorous program in order to become new firefighters for Lafayette. There are several aspects of the program that must be attained in order for these individuals to be prepared to fight fires and save people's lives. He says each of the seven have a desire to help the public and earn the rank of firefighter. Often firefighters are the first responders that are on the scene of emergency situations. A graduation ceremony will take place on Friday, May 14 at the Lafayette Fire Training Center. Their ceremony will start at 9 o'clock in the morning. The event is open to anyone in the public who would like to attend.