Twenty-two new recruits were sworn into duty for the Lafayette Fire Department Friday.

The new fire fighters endured a 50-hour a week schedule for 30-weeks to be among Lafayette’s bravest. The schedule consisted of classroom instruction and field training.

Lafayette fire Chief Robert Benoit says the addition of twenty-two firefighters will be significant in fulfilling the department’s mission to save lives.

The fire department will use the funds from their 1.6 million dollar FEMA grant to pay 20 of the 22 new firefighter’s salaries.

The remaining two will receive their salaries through the department’s general fund.