Crime & Safety
Port Chester Sees 3 New Firefighters [VIDEO]
Several new firefighters join Westchester ranks the same day blizzard hits region.
Port Chester firefighting ranks swelled Friday as three newly-minted graduates celebrated with a ceremony at Westchester's Department of Emergency Services in Valhalla.
The graduates—joining the Port Chester team from the Westchester County Chiefs Firefighters Academy—are Ryan Cantatore, Ryan Iarocci and Vincent Lyons.
The three make up a squad of 17 recruits who will be joining six fire companies around the county.
Find out what's happening in Port Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"For the past 17 weeks, these young men have faced a broad range of physical and academic challenges during their rigorous training," said Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino during a service that packed a sprawling room with grads' friends and families.
"They have worked very hard in the classroom and out in the drill yard," he added.
Find out what's happening in Port Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Keynote speaker Thomas Dunne—a Deputy Chief with the New York Fire Department–spoke of the hardships ahead.
"At times you're going to be really fatigued," Dunne said. "[And] you're going to be tested mentally, [as well]."
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