05/22/2026
RFD Connections — May 2026 | Vol. 2
Serving the Raleigh Fire Family
Another busy month in the books for the Raleigh Fire Department — and somehow the calendar just keeps getting fuller.
From Academy 56 graduation and upcoming promotions to softball season, retiree celebrations, and department events, there’s a lot happening across the RFD family.
This space exists to help keep us connected, informed, and cheering each other on along the way.
Thanks for being part of it. ❤️🚒
📆 Upcoming Events:
Academy 56 Graduation: Friday May 22, 2026 at Providence Church at 11am.
Captain Jayson Ramsey’s Retirement Celebration: May 28, 2026, Station 7 - Noon
2026 Spring Promotional Ceremony: Wednesday June 3, 2026 at City Council Chambers at 1pm.
Academy 56 Graduation
Raleigh Fire Academy 56 graduates Friday May 22 at 11am.
Join us at Providence Church to celebrate this great accomplishment!
Friday May 22, 2026
11:00 am
Providence Church, 6339 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh
The event will be livestreamed for those of you who can’t join us.
Congratulations Academy 56!
Coming Up! Round Robin Softball Tournament!
Carolina Brotherhood Ride 2026: Honoring the Fallen, Supporting the Families
This June, emergency responders from across North and South Carolina will once again come together for the annual Carolina Brotherhood Ride — a powerful journey of remembrance, support, and brotherhood.
The 2026 ride will take place June 22–27, traveling more than 440 miles through both states to honor firefighters, law enforcement officers, K9s, and emergency responders who lost their lives in the line of duty. Riders will stop in communities along the route to recognize fallen heroes, meet with their families, and remind them that their loved ones are never forgotten.
The Carolina Brotherhood is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization made up entirely of emergency responders and their families. Their mission is to provide emotional and financial support to the families of responders who become sick, injured, or killed in the line of duty. Each year, the ride route changes, allowing participants to visit different departments and connect personally with the families and agencies impacted by loss.
This year’s route will take riders primarily through the mountains of the Carolinas, beginning at the Charlotte Fire Training Academy before traveling through communities including Saluda, Glendale, Brevard, Franklin, Fairview, and returning to Charlotte. Along the way, riders will honor more than 20 fallen heroes from fire, law enforcement, corrections, and emergency services agencies across the region.
Participating agencies and supporters this year include members from Raleigh Fire, Charlotte Fire, Asheville Fire and Police, Columbia Fire, Wilmington Fire, Conway Fire, Gastonia Fire, Salisbury Fire, Rolesville Police, Harrisburg Fire, the South Carolina Highway Patrol, and many others.
The ride is about making sure families know their loved ones’ sacrifices continue to matter. Riders spend time listening to stories, sharing meals, visiting departments, and building lasting bonds with the families of the fallen.
2026 Honoree T-Shirts Available
The official 2026 Carolina Brotherhood Ride Honoree T-Shirts are now available for preorder through June 15. Orders are expected to begin shipping around June 22.
Carolina Brotherhood Ride Shop
The Carolina Brotherhood Ride continues to embody what the fire service and public safety community do best — showing up for one another when it matters most.
🏋🏽♀️First Annual Piedmont Classic
💪 On the Platform: Firefighter Jenny Jaskolka
In the last edition, we shared that Firefighter Jenny Jaskolka (Station 3/A) was preparing to compete in the inaugural Piedmont Classic strongman competition in China Grove, NC — her very first competition and first time ever pulling a fire truck in front of a crowd.
Well… she absolutely crushed it.
Despite battling bronchitis shortly before the event, Jenny showed up, stepped onto the platform, and represented RFD in a huge way. What started as a first competition quickly turned into a day packed with accomplishments, personal records, and a few moments that left jaws open.
Among her highlights from the competition:
Hit a 20-pound personal record on the log press at 155 pounds
Took 1st place in max distance farmer’s carry across all classes
Pulled an engine — her first vehicle pull ever — and not just any vehicle… a fire truck
Earned 1st place in the Women’s Novice Lightweight division, officially graduating from novice to open competition
Recorded the longest farmer’s carry distance of the entire event, across every division and competitor
Most importantly, Jenny said she’s grateful for the incredible people she met throughout the competition and is already looking ahead to the Holiday Highlander later this year.
Jenny also wanted to help spread the word that they’re looking for more female competitors to join her next year. Whether you already compete, strength train recreationally, or have just been curious about trying something new, she’d love to see more women step onto the platform and give it a shot. Strongman competitions are built around pushing yourself, supporting one another, and having fun — and apparently sometimes pulling a fire truck for good measure.
We’re proud to see our members pursuing goals outside the station walls, challenging themselves, and representing RFD with grit, determination, and heart. Jenny stepped into something completely new and came away with hardware, PRs, and a pretty incredible story to tell. Not bad for a first go-round!
Congratulations, Jenny! — your RFD family is cheering you on. 💪🔥❤️
🏃🏽♀️➡️Firefighter Fitness Competition🏋🏽
Firefighter Fitness Competition
Registration is open for Fittest 2 Serve, a fitness competition hosted by Apex Fire Dept.
📅 Saturday, October 17
📍 Apex, NC
Departments of all fitness levels are encouraged to participate.
For registration and info visit: https://fittest2serve.my.canva.site/
The Shirt Off Our Back…For Our Retirees
RFD-branded (and non-duty) apparel remains available for purchase through the retiree store:
🔗 https://raleighfiredepartment.itemorder.com/shop/category/416975/
Quick Notes:
Mix of cotton and polyester options
True-to-size fits (based on feedback)
Some youth sizes available
Select station-specific items (Stations 12, 14, 21)
Ladies-cut options, hats, and drinkware available
Orders ship directly to you
For general questions contact Battalion Chief David Penny
📧 david.penny@raleighnc.gov 📱 919-369-9845
🔨 Skills & Trades - Get Your Business Known!🔌
📩 Want to be listed?
💡Have an update, atta-boy, retirement, event, or team news to share?
RFD Connections is your space to celebrate our people, our moments, and the bonds that make this department extraordinary.
If you have photos, event updates, or stories worth sharing, send them our way — we’d love to feature them in a future issue.
📧 Email: contact@rfdconnections.com or keri.warner@raleighnc.gov
🙏 Thank you...
…for being part of the RFD family. We’re grateful for the people and moments that connect us, and we look forward to sharing more along the way.
Stay safe, take care of each other, and we’ll see you in the next edition of RFD Connections.
