MANSFIELD — Three new Mansfield firefighters swore on Monday morning to do their best to save lives and property.
That’s likely the most important part of the oath offered by the three new firefighters — Kaleb Armstrong, Owen Fike and Parker Herring — during a ceremony inside Station 1 at 140 E. Third St.
The trio replenishes the Mansfield Fire Department back to 91 members after two recent resignations and the retirement of Assistant Chief Chris Speelman.
Chief Dan Crow said he hopes to hire two more in the coming weeks to get the division back to its full strength of 93 sworn firefighters.
The chief welcomed the three new firefighters for a ceremony in front of family and friends, fellow firefighters and a handful of elected officials, including Mayor Jodie Perry.
“I always like to say thank you for choosing to join our department,” Crow said. “We know there’s a lot of options out there. We know there’s a lot of departments hiring and it means a lot that you want to join our team and become part of our culture and tradition that we’re building here.”
(Below are photos from Mansfield Fire Dept. Station 1 on Monday morning during a swearing-in ceremony for three new firefighters. The story continues below the photos.)
He also thanked family members.
“Thank you guys so much for being here and supporting our new firefighters. You play a big role in their careers. This is a tough job at times,” Crows said.
“There’s some shifts that you go through that are pretty rough. It’s really important that they have a good support system of family and friends and people that they trust that they can turn to … to kind of help them through some of those dark moments and also celebrate some of the happy moments and career accomplishments, such as you’re gonna receive today,” the chief said.
He pointed to fellow firefighters sitting and standing nearby.
“You’re joining a team, right? You can see them all kind of congregating over there to their corner. But you’re joining a brotherhood and sisterhood of firefighters who have kind of carried on the traditions at the MFD and have really made it a point to put service and sacrifice above all else,” Crow said.
“As you go through your career and you do run through those moments where you’re learning or you’re having tough times, they’re there to help you,” he said. “They are there to help guide and mentor you through this process and to turn you into the professionals that we all want to see you become.”
Safety Service Director Keith Porch administered the oath to the new firefighters.
“First, gentlemen, I want to say congratulations. I can tell you that you’re entering a profession that you’ll absolutely change lives. You’ll save lives and after a 30-year career, I can tell you that you’ll be proud to leave these doors knowing that you made a difference,” Porch said.
“I want to say thank you again for deciding to serve with the city of Mansfield and I wish you long and successful careers here at the department.”
Perry also welcomed the trio.
“I just want to congratulate you and officially welcome you to the fire department and the city of Mansfield,” the mayor said. “I look forward to working with each of you for many years. Thanks to the families for putting them on loan to us and we will try to do our best to take care of them and get them home and safe and happy.”
