By Kevin Doherty
Sentinel & Enterprise
MARLBORO, Mass. — Friday was a proud day for fire chiefs across Massachusetts, but particularly so for Fitchburg Fire Chief Kevin Roy.
Roy welcomed six new firefighters to his department, including his son, Andrew, as 47 recruit firefighters from 25 communities graduated from the state Firefighting Academy Friday afternoon.
“It’s a special day,” Roy said after the graduation ceremony at Assabet Valley Regional High School in Marlboro. “It’s great to be getting men on the force. They are good group of guys, very well liked and they received good reports from the academy.
“This is one of the best fire academies in the country,” Roy added. “The training that they go through is incredible, in all aspects of firefighting. ... There’s no doubt they’re ready to join the department.”
The Leominster Fire Department had seven recruits graduate in the 189th Recruit Firefighter Training Class.
“In this economic time, to have seven replacements coming to the Fire Department to replace a number of firefighters who retired over the past year, I couldn’t be happier,” said Leominster Fire Chief Robert Sideleau Jr. “We’ve had the opportunity to work and train them in the summer, and they are all really, really good guys, and I’m happy and excited for them to start their career.”
State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan congratulated graduates on passing the 12-week training academy, but also encouraged them to never stop learning and training.
“This is just the foundation to a great career for you firefighters,” Coan said before a packed auditorium. “Now take this foundation back to your communities and build your house upon it. Continue to have an open mind and learn from your fellow firefighters, so when the time comes, you know you’ll be prepared. And I guarantee you, like any good firefighter, you’ll say you were just doing your job because that’s what you were trained to do.”
As a child, Leominster firefighter Jonathan Campagna said he looked up to firefighters and police officers as heroes, and said graduation meant a realized dream.
“All the hard work has paid off,” he said. “This is our day, I can’t believe it.”
Fitchburg firefighter Sean Roy said he decided to be a firefighter to follow in the footsteps of his dad, Fitchburg firefighter James Roy, and grandfather, Verne Roy.
“It’s the greatest job in the world,” Sean Roy said after Friday’s ceremony. “It’s been a long haul to get to this day, but I wouldn’t do anything else. I can’t wait to officially start.”
Joining Andrew and Sean Roy on the Fitchburg Fire Department will be Michael Castelli, Anthony Marrama, Roger Ortiz and Edward Parillo.
Leominster Fire Department graduates include Campagna, Paul Appollonio, James Cameron, Andrew Ciprotti, Jeremy Murphy, Steven Provencher and Derek Ranno.
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