The Ansonia Fire Department honored its own Wednesday night at Ansonia High School during a promotion and award ceremony.
Family members, fellow firefighters, former chiefs, city officials, and members of the community showed their appreciation to the volunteers and their years of service.
Scott Trembley, a 24-year member of Charters Hose Company 4, is the city’s new fire chief.
Mayor David S. Cassetti congratulated Trembley after thanking outgoing Chief Joe Kingston for his service to the city.
In Ansonia, fire chiefs serve a two-year term, rotated between members of each of the city’s five firehouses.
During his remarks, the mayor saluted the fire department’s members for their volunteer service.
“It takes courage, fortitude, dedication, and skill” to be a firefighter, the mayor said.
Firefighters who moved up the chief ranks are:
- First Assistant Chief Edward J. Adamowski
- Second Assistant Chief Michael P. Eheman
- Third Assistant Chief Daniel Mudry, and
- Fourth Assistant Chief Alex Horjatschun.
Cassetti said the four received “well-deserved” promotions and called Trembley “the right man to lead the AFD.”
Trembley, a career firefighter, is a 19-year member of the Fairfield Fire Department, where he serves as Lieutenant.
“I owe a special thanks to this department for leading me to the career that I love,” he said Wednesday.
Trembley called the Ansonia Fire Department “a brotherhood of committed individuals.”
He also announced a formal process to recognize firefighters for services performed in the line of duty.
The first two recipients of certificates of recognition for their distinguished service were Third Lt. Matthew Gregorio and Second Lt. Mark Nimons.
The two members of Eagle Hose & Hook & Ladder Company 6 were honored for saving the life of an unconscious elderly man during a call for an odor of gas in October on Mountain View Road.
Shelton resident Fran Scarpa, who owns Center Stage Theater in Shelton with her husband, Gary, was also on hand to congratulate Trembley on his promotion.
She said Trembley has volunteered for the theater and his wife, Lillian, and their sons, Carter and Colby, have participated in productions.
Trembley said he had appeared last year in the Scarpas’ play “Inherit the Wind.”
Carter, 16, led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the national anthem at Wednesday’s ceremony.
The Rev. Stephen Krugel, Holy Rosary and St. Anthony Churches, and co-chaplain of Charters Hose Company 4, led the invocation.
