NEWARK -- Sixty-seven firefighters were sworn-in to their positions with the Newark fire division at a graduation ceremony Tuesday.

Federal homeland security grant money will fund the salaries for 40 of the newly-minted firefighters over the next two years, according to city officials. The latest group of rookie firefighters marked the city's largest-ever class of fire academy graduates, officials said.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose welcomed the firefighters with a public ceremony at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church.

"The Newark Fire Division has a long history of honor, courage and commitment, displaying valor by charging into the scene of disaster when others must flee, to save lives and property," the mayor said in a statement. "I call upon each new firefighter to serve the City of Newark with the dedication and distinction that has made our Fire Division an inspiration to our city's residents, youth and to the entire nation."

Firefighter recruits undergo a 13-week training academy, which includes physical tests and academic coursework. Recruits battle controlled fires, learn how to use a range of equipment and must pass certification tests.

Officials said the class represented a diverse group that included 22 Hispanic, 18 black, and 27 white graduates, including one woman, who joined seven other females in the fire division.

"The City of Newark's Fire Division is one of the greatest in the nation and it's important that we continue to grow and to build upon that success," Ambrose said. "The addition of these new firefighters will enhance our ability to deliver the invaluable services required to keep our city safe."

Newark merged its approximately 600-member fire department into divisions along with police and emergency management as part of the city Department of Public Safety last year.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect a corrected total of graduates provided by the Newark Department of Public Safety.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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