TROY, N.Y. — The Troy Fire Department has welcomed ten new firefighters following their graduation from a comprehensive training program. This addition brings the department to full capacity, according to Troy Mayor Carmella Mantello. The new recruits will help maintain public safety in the city, although anticipated retirements in the upcoming year may impact staffing levels.
Mayor Mantello emphasized the city’s ongoing commitment to investing in its fire services. The department recently expanded by adding four new positions, covering overtime expenses, and supporting emergency medical technician (EMT) services. “Graduating ten firefighters is a huge step forward,” Mantello stated. “Our firefighters are also EMTs, emergency personnel, so they actually attend Hudson Valley courses all throughout the year.”
Impact of In-House Training
The training program, which moved in-house several years ago, has significantly improved the experience for recruits. Mantello noted that the closer relationships formed between instructors and recruits foster a sense of camaraderie and enhance training outcomes. “You can only imagine the firefighters being trained by their mentors, by their colleagues,” she explained. “There’s a positive impact from that camaraderie and the family atmosphere that starts from day one.”
Troy’s fire department serves as a model for surrounding communities, particularly in terms of ambulance services, a status achieved through sustained city investment. During the graduation ceremony, three additional recruits were also recognized for their roles as full-time firefighters in the nearby cities of Rensselaer and Saratoga.
“We were one of the first city-run ambulances in the state back in the 90s, so it’s a really big deal, and other municipalities look at us as a model now,” Mantello commented.
Personal Impact and Future Developments
The new graduates’ contributions to public safety resonate with Mantello on a personal level. She shared her experience as a mother, recalling multiple occasions when she had to call 911 for her son, who faces medical challenges. “I have seen our firefighters firsthand in action — they are second to none. We are a model for other communities,” she remarked, highlighting the bravery of firefighters who run toward danger when others flee.
In addition to the new recruits, plans are underway for a new firehouse, which Mantello believes will greatly enhance the department’s readiness and response capabilities. “There was a very preliminary design of the firehouse that was outdated,” she explained. “We completed an environmental phase I, and we are now in the final design. It will go out to bid very soon, with construction expected to begin in 2026 and completion in 2027.”
Mayor Mantello praised the hard work of the new firefighters and underscored their importance to the community. She views the upcoming firehouse as a significant investment in the city’s infrastructure, which will serve as a catalyst for growth and improvement in the neighborhood.
“It’s going to be huge,” she concluded. “Our job here is to have long-term investment. I look at it as a great investment into that neighborhood and into the city long-term.”
