SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - The Massachusetts Fire Academy held a ceremony on Tuesday, officially welcoming in 18 new graduating firefighters.

For Roman Tikhonchuk, Tuesday marked the beginning of a new chapter.

“It’s an honorable job, and, you know, just to serve the community, you know,” he said. “There’s always a call for service for the people. There’s always going to be trouble that needs people to run to.”

“Run” being the key word. Before they can graduate, they have to put in some serious work over a ten-week course.

“Very hard, very difficult. It was, it was a lot of studying, a lot of physical activity,” Tikhonchuk said. “Every morning we have PT, working hard.”

Family and friends packed the room, eager to support the class, including Tikhonchuk’s fiancée.

“It’s awesome to see how much support firefighters get, and that, you know, there still are heroes out there that we can look up to,” Tikhonchuk said. “So, I just want to be thankful for the opportunity that I have.”

New graduates will represent the fire departments of Bellingham, Chicopee, North Adams, Palmer, Pittsfield, Springfield, Ware, and West Springfield.

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