Newly hired firefighters Roseanna K. Lacas (left) and Leon P. Morin. (Photo by Peter Currier)
WESTFIELD- The Fire Commission Appointed two new firefighters during a special meeting Tuesday afternoon at the Little River Fire Station after months of interviews.
Leon P. Morin and Roseanna K. Lacas were given unanimous appointments by the commission for a firefighter/Basic-EMT position in the department.
Both candidates showed previous experience in civil and military service during their interviews. Morin is a military veteran who said during his interview that he believes it will be a benefit to the department.
“I like to help people. I like to serve my community,” said Morin.
Morin said previous that he decided that he wanted to become a firefighter five or six years ago. He took the Massachusetts Civil Service test in 2016 and had done another interview for a fire department during that time.
Lacas, a native of Westfield, had been away at college to study athletic training for some time before returning to Whip City. She said that her athletic training education can be applied to the EMT aspects of the job.
Lacas, like other Westfield firefighters recently, has been going to school to become a full paramedic. She said recently that she expects to take her final exam in February. She had decided that she wanted to be a firefighter during her sophomore year of college.
“My parents raised me to help others when I can,” said Lacas.
Fire Chief Patrick Egloff implemented a policy when he was appointed that all firefighters in the department must be certified paramedics, or in the process of being certified within a certain period of their date of hire.
Both firefighters are expected to begin on Monday after they give their oath of office. Due to a packed schedule in City Hall Tuesday evening, the City Clerk’s office was unable to send a representative down to deliver the oath.
