On Dec. 17, the 50th recruit class of the Connecticut Fire Academy graduated at the Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport.
Five of the 66 graduates joined the Milford Fire Department, they are: Ryan M. Antonino, Raul Alfons Benavides-Espinal, Jeffrey T. Platek, Gregory P. Prior and Marc D. Ruggiero.
Milford fire recruit Marc Ruggiero was presented with the Michael C. Riley Hard Charger Award, which is awarded to the top recruit from each graduating class.
The recruits completed a 14-week training program in areas including hazard materials mitigation, weapons of mass destruction preparedness, confined-space rescue, CPR/defibrillator and technical rescue.