The Salem Fire Department swore in 51 new medics June 26 as the city prepares to launch ambulance service.

The promotional ceremony included badging of new Emergency Medical Technicians and paramedics. The city begins offering ambulance service at midnight July 1 in a seamless transition.

Women comprise 44 percent of new EMTs and 43 percent of new paramedics.

The Fire Department open recruitment reflects the city's commitment to fostering a diverse workforce and also allowed existing service employees to compete for jobs.

The new hires are also racially diverse. The new EMTs are 8.6 percent Latino, 3 percent Asian, 5.7 percent Native American and 80 percent white. The new paramedics are 8 percent Latino, 4 percent black and 84 percent white.

Roughly 70 percent of Fire Department calls are medical emergencies.