NORTH BERGEN, NJ - Firefighters, active and retired, families and friends filled the Waterside Restaurant to celebrate officer promotions and the addition of 13 new probationary firefighters to the regional fire department, May 18th.

The assembly was welcomed by Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, who is the Chairman of the Fire Department Management Board. One battalion chief and three captains were sworn in by Chief of Department David Donnarumma. In addition, 13 new firefighters were also sworn in and received their assignments.   

The new battalion chief is Carlos Perez. Promoted to the rank of captain were Brian Raparelli, Steven Irving and Lisa Napier. Napier, a military veteran, was the first female member of the regional department and she has now made additional history by becoming the department's first female captain.     

The new firefighters are: Andre Rivera-Slate, Eric Leight, Giuseppe Salandra, Ray Feliciano, Edward Diaz, George Houston, Yousef Alawie, Luis Aguilera, Jason LaBarbera, Charles Lisa, James Lisa, Andres Flores Sr. and Victor Vangelakos.