CHAPPAQUA, NY (January 31, 2026) — Thirty-one new firefighters graduated today from the Westchester County Career Fire Chiefs Firefighters Academy, including two from Pelham Manor and one from Rye Brook.
The recruits, representing 14 fire departments across Westchester and surrounding counties, completed rigorous academic and physical training. They received their certificates in front of a packed audience at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in New Castle.
The graduates will serve nine departments in Westchester County, three in Dutchess County, one in Orange County and one in Nassau County.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins congratulated the class and highlighted the broad skills required of firefighters, from combating building fires and managing hazardous materials to performing rescue operations after severe weather.
“Firefighters are also called upon to come to the aid of the people in all kinds of conditions and at all hours of the day and night,” Jenkins said. “The major winter storm we experienced last weekend is a fresh reminder of that reality. I am sure there are many in this room who made their way to and from work during the storm, and responded in whiteout conditions to fires, vehicle accidents and other calls. I am grateful to all of you, and to your fellow firefighters, for the service you rendered in those treacherous conditions.”
Jenkins expressed appreciation to the career chiefs, Academy commanding officers, instructors and Department of Emergency Services staff for preparing the new firefighters.
Additional speakers included Department of Emergency Services Commissioner Susan Spear; Deputy County Executive Richard G. Wishnie; Peekskill Fire Chief James Seymour, president of the Westchester Career Chiefs Association; and Eastchester Fire Department Lt. Dominick DiRienzo, who served as Academy commanding officer with New Rochelle Fire Department Deputy Chief Joseph Sinatra.
The Pelham Manor and Rye Brook graduates are:
- Pelham Manor: Leonard Esposito, Santino Esposito
- Rye Brook: Charles Nielsen
The full list of graduates and their departments includes:
- Eastchester: Nicholas DiBrino, Kevin Donovan, Giovanni Ruffolo
- Fairview: Tyler Loccisano
- Harrison: Daniel Cochrane
- LaGrange: Kyle Lewis, Phillip Scarano, Owen Thomas
- Long Beach: Michael Skudin
- Mount Vernon: Taj Bridgers, Daniel Brooks, Christopher Cargill, Matthew Doria, Lennie Graham, RayQuan Hyatt, Damon Reynolds, Julius Runcie, Akeem Vereen
- Newburgh: Michael Hernandez
- Peekskill: Dominick Marinello
- Pelham Manor: Leonard Esposito, Santino Esposito
- Pleasant Valley: Spence Simoni
- Poughkeepsie: James Boyles, Michael Ross
- Rye Brook: Charles Nielsen
- Scarsdale: Nicholas Camardella
- White Plains: Helany Cano, Emiliano Dominguez, Adam Seit, Thomas Tassone
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
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