PRESS RELEASE: Five New Firefighters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

July 23, 2021

Contact socialmedia@upperdarby.org 

UPPER DARBY WELCOMES FIVE NEW FIREFIGHTERS FROM INAUGURAL JOINT TRAINING ACADEMY WITH WILMINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

UPPER DARBY, PA: Mayor Barbarann Keffer and Chief Derrick Sawyer attended the graduation of five new members of the Upper Darby Fire Department in Wilmington, DE, on Saturday, July 17: Joseph Chetalo, William Garges, Dylan Haberle, Timothy McMinn, and Tyler White-Burke. 

“We are delighted that these newly minted firefighters are joining the Upper Darby Fire Department,” Mayor Keffer said. “They are part of our reinvestment in Upper Darby, and they are setting a wonderful example for other young people who aspire to public service.”

“We are proud to welcome these recruits to the best job in the world,” Chief Sawyer said. “They will be a great asset to the future of our Department, and we are committed to providing them with the tools they need for success in serving our community.” 

The graduates’ recruit class represented the first time in the 100-year history of the Wilmington Fire Department that outside agencies participated in their training academy. In addition to the five Upper Darby recruits and the 25 from the Wilmington Fire Department, 10 were from the City of Chester Bureau of Fire. The academy consisted of a rigorous 14-week training curriculum that included academic study, hands-on skill training, live fire training, and stringent physical fitness requirements. The ceremony featured remarks by Chief Sawyer, Chief Looney of the Wilmington Fire Department, and Commissioner Rigby of the Chester Bureau of Fire, as well as an award ceremony and the pinning of badges on the new firefighters. 

Saturday’s graduation comes on the heels of a busy time for the UDFD. They recently received a FM Global Grant for their Fire Investigator Division, which will be used for fire investigation initiatives. Last month, they co-hosted a Youth Police & Fire Academy in conjunction with the Upper Darby Police Department. On Wednesday, Chief Sawyer was the virtual commencement speaker for the Montgomery County Fire Academy Class 2101, who have completed the Pennsylvania Entry Level Firefighter Training program. He also said the UDFD is already preparing for their next class of cadets, with a preliminary exam scheduled for applicants in late August. 

Upper Darby is Pennsylvania’s sixth-largest municipality, and Mayor Keffer is committed to creating new  opportunities for its more than 87,000 residents. Elected in 2019, Mayor Keffer has focused her efforts on reform, revitalization, and reinvestment into Upper Darby. Chief Derrick Sawyer is a 35-year veteran of the fire service who became the leader of the UDFD in September 2021. He previously served as the Fire Commissioner of the Philadelphia Fire Department and the Fire Director for Trenton Fire and Emergency Services in Trenton, NJ.  

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