The new firefighters completed the 12-week training at the state firefighters academy.
HOLYOKE – Seven firefighters joined the ranks of the Fire Department in a ceremony Monday that included family members pinning on their badges.
The new firefighters are Luis Izquerdo, Curtis Carter, Matthew Gubala, Patrick Harris, Matthew Wolanczyk, Peter McMahon and Dana Potter, each at a yearly salary of about $37,000, officials said.
They completed the 12-week training at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, in Stow, have been working as firefighters and will complete their one-year probations in July, officials said.
The ceremony was held in a truck bay at Fire Department headquarters, 600 High St. Firefighters’ family members, firefighters in uniform and city officials attended.
Provisional Fire Chief William P. Moran said the seven new members, like all firefighters, would risk their lives to save each other.
“And the neat thing is, they’d do the same for civilians,” Moran said.
Money for the seven firefighters’ salaries, about $260,000, was included in the Fire Department budget for the fiscal year that began July 1, Mayor Elaine A. Pluta said.
“I want to thank the firefighters for having the strength and courage to take on this job for the city,” Pluta said.
Gubala joins a department that includes his father, Capt. Paul L. Gubala, a 31-year veteran.
“It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do,” the younger Gubala said.
Paul Gubala said the pride at his son’s achievement comes with advice.
“I always tell him that every day is a chance to learn something new. If you learn something new every day, it makes it worth the effort,” he said.