Thirty cadets graduated from Allan Hancock College's Fire Academy on Thursday, marking the start of their firefighting service.

The ceremony at the Public Safety Training Complex in Lompoc featured a live demonstration of the cadets' new skills, including running fire hoses, dousing burning cars, and saving people from car wrecks.

A formal ceremony followed, where the cadets were promoted to certified firefighters.

156th Battalion graduate Dawson Barnes says the milestone event served as a way to honor his father's legacy.

"I'm excited to start my career in the fire service. My dad's been in the fire service my entire life, so it's been, like, kind of my life's journey to look up to him and to follow in his footsteps," Barnes said. "I'm ready to pave my own path in the fire service and

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