Four New Firefighters
May 10, 2022 - Officially appointed two weeks ago, four recruit firefighter/paramedics were sworn in yesterday morning in the town hall rotunda. Firefighters William Pepe, Joseph Seminoro II, Thomas Mieldzioc, and Nicholas Traycheff all have previous experience as career firefighters in other departments.
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Chief Gary Merwede greeted dozens of department members and the family members of the recruits being sworn in. The recent exodus of veteran personnel, including many officers whose vacancies have been filled, left the department with numerous firefighter vacancies.
Last year, the department answered 9,766 calls, including 43 structure fires of which at least a half-dozen went to multiple alarms. Sadly, two civilian fatalities were also recorded. For the past two decades Hamden has not had a year with fewer than 20 strucrture fires, with the last four-year average above 40.
"Our training our leadership, our readiness all lead to how successful our mission will be, and how our team will handle every emergency call for help."
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Introducing the recruit firefighters to their new colleagues, the Chief noted, "Joining our team today are four experienced and certified Firefighter/EMTs, each coming to us with skillsets that have been developed at the Connecticut Fire Academy; and the time they have taken to hone their craft with their previous departments before coming to Hamden."
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| Ff. William Pepe |
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Firefighter William Pepe Jr.
William Pepe is a United States Marine Corps veteran, having served three combat tours overseas. As is often the case, William grew up in the fire service in in a volunteer fire company in Branford, under the watchful eye of his father Deputy Chief of Operations William Pepe Sr.
After retiring from the military, William Jr. used the GI Bill to enter the Connecticut Fire Academy in Class 59, where he excelled in his training. The Chief thanked William for his service, "we are happy to have you on-board."
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| Ff. Joseph Seminoro II |
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Firefighter Joseph Seminoro II
Joseph Seminoro II began his journey in the career fire service with the Naugatuck Fire Department in 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was taking hold. Joe already holds certifications as a pump and aerial operator In addition, he also is a certified SCUBA diver and licensed Arborist. Through the years he has gained much experience with ropes and rigging.
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| Ff. Thomas Mieldzioc |
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Firefighter Thomas Mieldzioc
Firefighter Mieldzioc comes to us from the Mansfield Fire Department after having served previously with Electric Boat in Groton and becoming a volunteer firefighter in 2013.
He and recruit Firefighter Seminoro were both in the same Connecticut Fire Academy graduating class and, as luck would have it, they are both becoming reacquainted here in Hamden.
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| Ff. Nicholas Traycheff |
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Firefighter Nicholas Traycheff
Firefighter Traycheff was also called to the fire service by joining a volunteer fire company and eventually finding a career opppotunity with the Wilton Fire Department.
Nicholas is a certified pump and aerial operator, as well as a Fire Service Instructor I. Having also earned a BA degree in Accounting from Penn State, he is also a Certified Public Accountant, which clearly illustrates the diversity of experience that can be found around just about every firehouse kitchen table.
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The new firefighters will now begin two weeks of department orientation, as they familiarize themselves with our stations, response areas, apparatus, tools, equipment, and various operational procedures.
New week, the four will receive their station assignments and begin working on the line the week of May 23rd.
The members of the Hamden Fire Retirees Association wish to echo the Chief's parting remarks to the department's newest members, "Stay safe, never stop learning, and work hard to earn the trust of the public every single day."
Posted 5/10/2022
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