Thanks to a $561,202 federal grant, the city’s fire department has four new firefighters.
Four firefighters started on the job Tuesday, after going through 12½ weeks of training. They graduated during a ceremony at the Massey Street fire station, where they’re beginning their careers.
The new firefighters are Andrew J. Dibble, John J. Laakso, Jason A. Patchen and Jonathan M. Sullivan.
They all wanted to be firefighters since they were children.
It marks the first time since 2012 that the fire department added firefighters, Fire Chief Dale C. Herman said.
“We’re looking up,” he said.
Their jobs with the department could last just three years because the federal money from the Staffing for an Adequate Fire and Emergency Response — or SAFER — grant dries up after that point.