Two New Members of the Wayland Fire Dept. Sworn In

Two new Wayland firefighters, Odimar Batista and William Tyree, were sworn in by Town Clerk Lois Toombs during the Board of Selectmen’s meeting Monday night.

“These are eager, qualified folks ready to join our community,” said Fire Chief Robert Loomer.

Batista, a native of Brazil who grew up in Harvard, joined the U.S. Coast Guard as a seaman fireman and worked search and rescue including as a rescue swimmer. He then became an EMT and paramdic, and has previously worked for ambulance companies and as a firefighter in Weston and Hyannis, Loomer said. 

Tyree is a Florida native who served as an airborne infantryman in the U.S. Army in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He is certified in Massachusetts as a paramedic and previously worked for Pro Ambulance associated with Emerson Hospital. Tyree will begin firefighting training July 11 at the Massachusetts Fire Academy, Loomer said.

Batista and Tyree fill vacancies left following the November death of firefighter Peter Regan and the retirement of firefighter Greg Tauer after more than 30 years of service, Loomer said.

Loomer told Wayland Patch last week that there were numerous applicants for the positions Batista and Tyree were chosen for, and their paramedic skills stood out.

"We are moving toward our goal of having 24-hour advanced life support,” he said.