New recruits for the St. Albans Fire Department have started their journey toward becoming a firefighter for the department. Monday was day one of what will be a three-month academy. Each day begins at 6 a.m. and goes on to last 12 hours, filled with rigorous activity. The department said it has one of the most intense academies in the state. Eyewitness News said, in addition to the 12 hour days spent at the academy, each night the recruits will have to spend a couple of hours reading to prepare them for the next day.