‘Fantastic’ start for new Swampscott firefighter

SWAMPSCOTT – The town’s newest firefighter couldn’t wait to report back to work.Swampscott native Chris DiPietro, 27, who graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy on Friday afternoon, clocked in for his first shift on Saturday at Group One, Engine 21.”It was a fantastic first day on the job,” DiPietro said. “All my life I have wanted to be a firefighter, so this is a dream come true. It was everything I have ever dreamed of.”DiPietro, who is a 2002 graduate of Swampscott High School, previously worked for the school department doing maintenance.”I still have a lot to learn,” he said. “But everyone has been fantastic and helping me out. The minute my shift was over I couldn’t wait to get back. It’s everything I expected and everything I’ve dreamed of. I’m looking forward to a long career serving the town.”During the intensive training program at the academy, DiPietro received classroom training, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training and hands-on practice fighting controlled fires.”At the academy everything was new to me,” DiPietro said. “I had to do a lot of studying, but this is what I’ve always wanted to do.”The graduation ceremony took place at the Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough.Acting Chief Kevin Thomsen, who attended the graduation ceremony, said he believes DiPietro will be an asset to the department.”He’s a nice kid,” Thomsen said. “He’s very conscientious and eager to learn.”