ROME — Five new firefighters have joined the ranks of the Rome Fire Department, and will begin the Utica Fire Academy at the end of March, according to Rome Fire Chief Thomas Iacovissi.

The new firefighters were sworn into their positions at Rome City Hall on Friday. They will begin service on March 27 when they start the academy.

New firefighters:

• Anthony Kapps, 34, is a graduate of Rome Catholic High School and St. John Fisher College.

• Brian Burke, 31, is a graduate of Rome Free Academy, Mohawk Valley Community College and Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania. Burke currently works as an emergency medical technician.

• Rudy Stauder, 26, is a graduate of RFA.

• Adam Boulanger, 39, is a graduate of RFA and MVCC.

• Joseph Stasio, 39, is a graduate of RFA and currently works as an EMT. Stasio is married to current firefighter Jaimie Stasio.

Chief Iacovissi said all five are Rome natives and currently reside in Rome. He said several retirements led to the need to hire new firefighters.

“This brings us back up to our authorized strength” of 76 frontline firefighters and officers, the chief said.

The fire academy is 13 weeks of classroom and in-field training. Graduation is expected at the end of June.

The starting salary for a Rome firefighter is $45,028, according to city payroll records. The Rome Fire Department’s budget for 2023 is $7.6 million.