CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Chicopee Fire Department will be adding more names to their ranks as the department held an appointment ceremony for new recruits at City Hall.

The Chicopee Fire Department swore in three Hampden County natives, Erik Garcia, Robert Doyle and Edwin Diaz, in front of family and friends on Tuesday afternoon.

Mayor John Vieau and Fire Chief Dan Stamborski said they will eventually help the department better protect the community.

Springfield native Erik Garcia was one of the recruits. He’s lived in Chicopee for almost a decade and started his family here.​

"I'm ready, I'm excited, I'm nervous," Garcia said. "But I'm definitely looking forward to a long career and being out there in the community and helping in anyway that I can." 

The recruits will begin their orientation on Monday before officially starting their 10-week training program at the fire academy in Springfield.​