NORWICH – Over 130 supporters turned out for the firefighter’s graduation ceremony held at the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Thursday that welcomed a large class of 23 volunteers into the ranks of seven different local departments.
“It just always been in my background. It’s one of the best ways I can think of serving the community and fire fighting is in my blood,” said 20-year-old graduate Steven Goodchild of the Plymouth Fire Department. Goodchild’s father had been in the fire service as a paid firemen for 24 years in Fort Lauderdale Florida before moving his family to Chenango County.
Goodchild who has lived in the area for the last 10 years recently enlisted in Army and will be heading to basic training January 13.
He was awarded the Professionalism Award for the class. The award is decided by the fire instructors who discuss candidates displaying the highest level of professionalism and leadership.
“I want to stay in the area, once I’m finished serving, hopefully I’ll be able to find a paid firefighting position in Chenango or possibly Binghamton,” said Goodchild.
The ceremony also honored graduate Mike Stazo with the class’ Academic Excellence Award for outstanding demonstration of the knowledge and skills required of all firefighters in the field.
“We are very pleased to have such a large class graduating. I want to congratulated them on having a great class, the maximum class capacity is 24 and we are welcoming a graduating class of 23. With a number of places struggling to recruit new volunteers, this is a incredible number,” said Chenango County Fire Coordinator Matthew L. Beckwith.
He reported that is was not uncommon for some areas to have a 50 percent dropout rate. Only a single individual out of the original 24 recruits failed to complete the course in the graduating class.
The oldest candidate to graduate the course was 61-year-old Sebastian Paci, a supervising 2002 retiree of the New York City Transit system.
“One day I just happen to stop by at the Brisben Fire Department during a social. Being a local resident I wanted to talk to the people who’d be the ones to come to my home if I needed help,” said Paci.
That was about a year ago and today Paci is joining the ranks of the volunteers he first stopped to greet.
“They were great when I first came in. I left wondering if maybe I could do something too. I admired that they were just looking to help out the community and so I got involved,” he said.
The graduates completed the 90 hour course for Firefighter One qualifications. Students committed to classes two nights a week and on some Saturdays for four hour class that went from 6 to 10:30 p.m. or later, often after working their regular jobs during the day. Much of the training occurred at the Fire Training Center In Norwich but the class also traveled to other training centers outside of area for parts of the program. The program also require midterm and final examinations to be passed.
Thomas Wutz Chief of the Fire Service Bureau, from the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control was the guest speaker at the event. Wutz’s bureau had been called to Chenango County recently this past winter to help local investigators piece together the remnants of a fatal Norwich fire that claimed two lives.
“In closing, I like to pay tribute to the families and loved ones of these students.  I thank you for allowing them the time and dedication away from your families so they may fulfill their desired career.  It doesn't get any easier as they continue to contribute to their Departments.  There will be meetings, fund raising events, and alarms that will take them away from birthdays, holiday dinners and other family time,” Beckwith advised the crowd.  
“I know it will be difficult and sometimes you will be saying ‘Why tonight?’  I can only offer you this explanation.  Please realize they are helping their community, neighbors and friends in their time of need.  These firfighters and EMS personnel dedicate their lives to helping others in the hopes of continuing the tradition.  So, hopefully, if the day ever comes when you may need assistance, wether it be for a medical emergency, car accident, or house fire, someone will come and help you,” he added.
Paci said he was considering attending the Firefighter Two class and obtaining the next highest qualification in the field. “I think I might like too someday,” he said.
Goodchild who hopes to make a career in the local fire service said he was planning on gaining additional EMS and fire training.
“We are the proud few that put our lives on the line every day, every night to help our neighbors and even strangers.  Ladies and gentlemen, that's what it's all about, neighbors helping neighbors,” said Beckwith in closing.