Dozens Of Philadelphia Firefighters Receive Promotions
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Nearly three dozen members of the Philadelphia Fire Department were promoted Friday at the Fire Training Academy in Northeast Philadelphia.
A total of 34 firefighters received promotions; 14 Firefighters were promoted to the rank of Fire Lieutenant, four Fire Lieutenants to the rank of Fire Captain, seven Fire Captains to the rank of Fire Battalion Chief, five Fire Battalion Chiefs to the rank of Fire Deputy Chief, three Fire Service Paramedics to the rank of Fire Paramedic Lieutenant, and one Fire Paramedic Captain to the rank of Fire Paramedic Services Chief.
Thirty-seven-year-old Danny Skala and his brother 30-year-old Timothy Skala of Northeast Philadelphia were both were promoted to fire lieutenant. They come from a long line of firefighters.
"It started with our grandfather, him and his brother first started it," Timothy said. "Our grandfather was one of the deputy commissioners and our father was a captain, our uncle was a battalion chief, our cousin is a firefighter also, and me and Danny are continuing the legacy."
Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer swore in the firefighters.
"I taught both of those brothers in the fire academy, so I seen them as rookies, as cadets, now to be lieutenants," Sawyer said. "So it's great to see people progress personally and professionally."
Sawyer's future however is uncertain. Mayor-elect Jim Kenney has yet to announce who will be Philadelphia's fire commissioner when Kenney takes office next month.