ROME, NY — March 12th — At a ceremony held at Rome City Hall, the Rome Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 694 welcomed and swore in four new firefighters. John Gotti, Christopher Mackey, David Reilly, and Damon Stafford will start a 14-week training program at the Utica Fire Academy after formally joining the department. The school offers both classroom and practical training in emergency medical response, firefighter safety, rescue operations, and fire suppression.

New members are prepared for the variety of occurrences handled by municipal departments, such as automobile accidents, medical emergencies, and building fires, through fire school training. The firefighters will start field assignments in the City of Rome after graduating from the academy. The new recruits will bolster personnel and improve emergency response coverage, according to department officials.