Branford Fire Department has sworn in five newly hired firefighters. Family, firefighters, fire commissioners, and friends joined local officials and Branford Fire Department leaders for a swearing-in ceremony held during a special meeting of the Branford’s Board of Fire Commissioners, Branford Fire Headquarters on Tuesday, Aug.16.

The new hires are Eleftherios “Teddy” Gionteris, Thomas Wrede, Thomas O’Toole, Meaghan Hayes, and Shannon Filo.

The meeting was broadcast live by BCTV and can be viewed at the BCTV Facebook page.

Addressing the new hires and those in attendance, Branford Fire Chief Thomas Mahoney noted the growth of the town’s professional firefighter complement over the past seven years that he’s served as chief, going from a shift of 20 career firefighters to today’s shift of 42.

“One of the great honors I have in being Fire Chief is hiring new firefighters to replace those who have come before. Those are big shoes to fill, but it’s exciting to watch them grow into it,” said Mahoney.

The ceremony began with a Color Guard presentation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Assistant Fire Chief Gary Bloomquist introduced the recruits who were then sworn in by Fire Commission chairman Robert Massey. Family members then pinned badges on their firefighter. Hayes received her pin from her dad, retired (October 2021) Branford Deputy Fire Marshal Eugene “Gene” Hayes.

Introductions

Gionteris, Badge 768, is a lifelong Branford resident and Stony Creek native. He joined Stony Creek Rescue Fire Co. 5 in 2018. He graduated from Capital Community College (Hartford) Paramedicine program and graduated from the Connecticut Fire Academy Recruit Training program in December, 2021. Gionteris began working full-time with BFD on Dec. 13, 2021 and is currently assigned to Division 1.

Wrede, Badge 803, joined Branford’s MP Rice Volunteer Hose Co. 2 in January 2015 and served as a lieutenant. He worked part-time for BFD EMS Division until he was hired full-time on May 2. Wrede is a graduate of Capital Community College (Hartford) Paramedicine program. Currently assigned to BFD Division 2, Wrede will begin attending the Connecticut Fire Academy Recruit Training program on Monday, Aug. 29.

O’Toole, Badge 855, applied to BFD through the statewide consortium testing process. His experience includes employment with the City of West Haven Allingtown Fire District. He is a spring 2021 graduate of the Connecticut Fire Academy Recruit program. He began working with BFD on July 12 and is assigned to Division 4.

Hayes, Badge 816, is a lifelong Branford resident. She has served as an EMT with BFD’s part-time EMS divison since September 2016. Hayes earned her degree in Nursing from the University of Connecticut, followed by attending an accelerated Paramedicine program of Crowder College, Missouri. Hayes will begin attending the Connecticut Fire Academy Recruit Training program on Tuesday, Aug. 29.

Filo, Badge 856, applied to BFD through the statewide consortium testing process. She served as a volunteer firefighter in Oxford and has served as an EMT with American Medical Response EMS (Bridgeport/Trumbull) for five years, beginning in 2017. Filos graduated from the Hartford Hospital Paramedicine program in December, 2021. She will begin attending the Connecticut Fire Academy Recruit Training program on Monday, Aug. 29.

Recruits joining the state’s Aug. 29 fire academy training program will graduate in December 2022 and join the department, said Mahoney, speaking during the Aug. 16 ceremony.

“One of the things your fellow co-workers had asked of us is to hire good people to work with them,” Mahoney told the newly hired firefighters. “There’s a statewide paramedic shortage. We're in a lot of competition to find good people. I think we found some really great people, and we’re proud to have you join our team.”