Ithaca, N.Y. — Two new Ithaca firefighters have been sworn in by Mayor Svante Myrick in a ceremony at City Hall.
Jillian Lanai Morales is the city’s first latina firefighter, Myrick said on Thursday. Jamon Louis is the city’s first black firefighter.
“Being the top applicants of a very competitive pool is accomplishment enough, but they’ve achieved something else historic,” Myrick said.
Morales and Louis will be filling the spots of two retiring firefighters in the fall, according to Lt. Tommy Basher of the Ithaca Fire Department.
“We’re very happy to have both of them on board,” Basher said.
Morales and Louis will start at the academy on Monday.
Congratulations to new IFD members! J. Lanai Morales & Jamon Louis. #ithaca @SvanteMyrick @ithacafire pic.twitter.com/oPfeOzjgyU
— GreenStar Co-op (@greenstarcoop) July 24, 2014