LYNN — While there were plenty of hugs to go around inside the city council chambers, the well-wishes for the firefighters who were sworn into new roles with the Fire Department on Wednesday actually began in the hallway outside.
Firefighter Christian Fabrizio warmly welcomed his fellow new recruits Reginald Rene and Daniel T. Sullivan as they stepped off the elevator with loved ones in tow. Newly promoted Captain Mario Lopez greeted Fire Chief Daniel Sullivan and soon-to-be new Lieutenants Robert Kimber and Edison Clarke with the jovial warmth of seasoned colleagues.
For this last group of men, the time they’ve spent with each other feels almost familial. Lopez, who will mark 27 years with the department next month, previously worked with Chief Sullivan on the same fire engine. Sullivan had also helped train Kimber while serving as a training officer. And while he never served on an engine or ladder with Clarke, Sullivan counts him as an essential part of the team.
“It’s been a long road,” Kimber, a 13-year veteran of the department, said minutes before he was sworn in by City Clerk Janet Rowe. “I just want to give back to the department. My father [Robert Kimber Sr.] was a lieutenant, though I never got to work with him. I wish I had.”
For the new recruits, Wednesday’s ceremony marked the culmination of long-held dreams. But it is also an auspicious new beginning. Fabrizio, who previously worked as a personal trainer, said he was “very excited” and that joining the department has long been a goal.
Rene is a veteran of the Iraq war, though he has always seen himself in the role he’s just been given. “This is a wonderful opportunity,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to serve in the fire service. This is incredibly exceptional for me.”
Daniel T. Sullivan, the son of Chief Sullivan, is a community service hire, an oversight that places firefighters in the department after they complete an exam. Daniel, who earned a 100 on the exam, comes to Lynn from the Lexington Fire Department, where he served for five years.
“It’s always exciting to get new blood,” Chief Sullivan said. “It brings so much energy to the department. Everyone wants to train with them and show them what they know.”
Following the ceremony, Chief Sullivan offered comforting words to the families gathered in the room. “This is undoubtedly a dangerous career path,” he said. “But the members you see here, we’ll keep an eye on them to help hone those skills.”
Mayor Jared Nicholson also welcomed the firefighters in their new roles while stressing the importance of service. “To be up here, to be answering this call, you’re stepping forward to keep our residents safe,” he said.
“To the new recruits, we’re honored to have you on board,” Nicholson added. “You’re joining a great team.”
