Fire recruits sworn in. Photo courtesy of city Fire Department spokesman Bill Kaempffer.

Twenty-one new Bridgeport firefighters were sworn in Wednesday evening in City Council Chambers by Board of Fire Commission Chairman Stuart Rosenberg in front of friends, family and Fire Department officials.

The group graduated from the Connecticut Fire Academy last month and continued their EMS training in Bridgeport. They were assigned to their new firehouses on Dec. 29, according to Fire Department spokesman Bill Kaempffer.

The newest Bridgeport firefighters are: Kenneth D. Benedict, Damian T. Bullock, Derek S. Currao, Louis J. DeBiase, Matthew J. Falzarano, Brandon J. King, Edgard C. Loyola, Scott F. McAulay, Joseph J. McNellis, Richard K. Minfield Jr., Richard M. Olivier, Nicholas J. Porzelt, Jose A. Ramos, Lindsey Rivera Jr., Christopher Robinson, Anthony Santiago, Jesse M. Seto, Dayshon D. Smith, Andrew J. Smriga, Jayson H. Streit and Michael Villarnovo. Chief Rooney and Mayor Finch were among the dignitaries shaking hands with the graduates as they received their certificates. Several of the graduates also were congratulated by relatives who are in the fire service, including two whose fathers are current members of the Bridgeport Fire Department–Joseph J. McNellis, son of Lieut. Frank McNellis and Nicholas Porzelt, son of Deputy Chief Bruce Porzelt.