5 Recruits Welcomed Into Greenwich Fire Department

GREENWICH, CT — The Greenwich Fire Department on Thursday morning welcomed five recruits into the ranks during a swearing-in ceremony at central headquarters.

It was sweltering inside the fire department garage, where elected officials, firefighters, family and friends gathered, but there were smiles all around as each recruit took the oath of office from First Selectman Fred Camillo before receiving their badge from a loved one.

Joining the GFD are Brinton Beard, Kevin Bonkoski, Joshua Carden, Ethan McAllister and Brandon Wood.

"Today is a special day. We have five young men continuing their journey into the fire service," GFD Chief Joseph McHugh said, noting the recruits have served in previous departments in other parts of the country before finding their way to Greenwich. "They're really great candidates and additions to the Greenwich Fire Department."

Beard currently lives in Union City, N.J., and is an EMT and has certifications in pumper, aerial, and technical rescue. He previously worked for the Sedalia Fire Department in Missouri, according to McHugh.

Bonkoski lives in Sloatsburg, N.Y., and has national certifications in technical rescue and fire instruction. He previously spent four years as a firefighter with the Department of Veterans Affairs in New York State, and six months as a firefighter with the Grand Central Fire Brigade.

Carden lives in Paramus, N.J., and has a bachelor's degree in sociology and anthropology from Virginia State University. Before coming to Greenwich, he worked for the South Fulton Fire Department in Georgia.

According to McHugh, McAllister is a fifth-generation firefighter and a Connecticut native. He has paramedic certifications and worked for the Ridgefield Fire Department (CT), and Glynn County Fire Rescue in Georgia.

Wood is also a Connecticut native and lives in Shelton, were he graduated from Shelton High School in 2012 and Southern Connecticut State University in 2018. He's certified as an EMT, and previously worked at a private manufacturing company as a laser engraving technician, and served as a wildland firefighter on the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew.

Wood's father, Bill, is a retired lieutenant who served in the Stamford Fire Department for 30 years before retiring in 2021.

The recruits will now head to the Bridgeport Fire Academy for 12 weeks of training, as opposed to the 16-week training schedule up at the CT Fire Academy in Windsor Locks.

"As a staff and working closely with my assistant chiefs, we feel it's a better academy. We felt like the training is better," McHugh said of Bridgeport. The recruits will travel back and forth to the academy, rather than having sleeping arrangements on-site.

"I know it's a little stressful. There's going to be a lot thrown at you these next few weeks," McHugh told the recruits. "You're going to be battle-tested at the fire academy, but not quite as battle-tested as you'll be in the firehouse and when you start working downstairs."

Camillo, who also serves as the town's police and fire commissioner, said it's "always an honor" to administer the oath to a new first responder in town.

"Every single one of them was smiling and so grateful for this opportunity," he said of the five recruits on Thursday.

"Likewise, we are grateful that they will be working for the town of Greenwich and serving us. We'll certainly support them in their future endeavors here as firefighters for Greenwich."

McHugh thanked the recruits and their families, saying there will be sacrifices over the next few weeks and months as their careers in Greenwich begin.