Jersey City welcomed 27 new firefighters to the ranks yesterday in a swearing-in ceremony at City Hall.

The class of 27 includes seven Hispanic firefighters, three Asian-American firefighters, one African-American firefighter, and one female firefighter as part of an ongoing effort to diversify the Fire Department.

The new class was sworn in by Mayor Steve Fulop, Public Safety Director James Shea and acting Fire Chief Steven McGill. The ceremony was attended by family and friends of the new firefighters, as well as members of the City Council.

The new class of firefighters is the department's 66th and the seventh sworn in since Fulop took office. City officials said a total of 152 new firefighters have been hired since the mayor took office four years ago.

The new class is also the third that has completed additional EMT training partially funded through a federal SAFER grant, and are all fully EMT-certified, officials said.

The new firefighters are: Jesse Porcelli, Matthew Knaus, Joseph Decristofaro, Brianna Rodriguez, Anthony DelPiano, Joseph Parreno, Bryan Knittle, Herman Ortez, Richard Baldanza, Michael Laurie, Joseph Delesky, Thomas Broderick, John Zaucha, Christopher Pittaro, Gustavo Domecq, Francis Trombetta, Walter Stankiewicz, Mario Gatti, Jesus Benitez, Allan Lucero, David Knaus, Jeudy Rodriguez, Keith Suthammanont, Robert Wagner, Brett Petillo, Corey Green and Michael Mullane.