On August 2, 2006, Rep. Sanchez congratulated the 2006 Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) graduates and their families at OCFA’s training grounds at its new headquarters facility. A total of 29 recruits received badges after completing a 14-week, 560-hour training course.

“The training you have received goes beyond firefighting. You are now our first responders. Your community and neighbors look to you in times of emergency and that is a very heavy burden,” said Sanchez. “But it also makes you leaders.”

Sanchez recalled extraordinary emergencies where firefighters were called to duty. Whether the massive mobilization of resources to fight fires, the deployment of the Urban Search and Rescue Taskforce 5 to Hurricane Katrina or the brotherhood of first responders during 9/11, firefighters have proven themselves heroes.  

The Orange County Fire Authority is a regional fire service agency that serves 22 cities in Orange County and all unincorporated areas. The OCFA protects over 1,300,000 residents from its 61 fire stations located throughout Orange County. OCFA Reserve Firefighters work 21 stations throughout Orange County.