6 new firefighters bring varied skills to Milford

01/01/2007

-MILFORD — The latest group of Milford firefighters are living proof that childhood dreams can come true. The city recently welcomed six men to the department. Four recruits who graduated from the Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks recently were settling into day-to-day living at the station. Two others have already been on the job, having completed their training over the summer.

"We have some really exceptional recruits," said Capt. Harold Streit, a training officer with the Milford Fire Department. "They are a great asset to Milford in terms of their characteristics."

Included in the latest group of recruits is one of Milford’s youngest firefighters ever, Kyle Wengenroth, 19, of Fairfield. Wengenroth has been a volunteer firefighter in Trumbull since he was 16.

"I just enjoy this," he said. "I love it."

Streit said Wengenroth has shown maturity and intelligence, despite his youth.

"He has what it takes," Streit said.

"I think this is the best job in the world," Wengenroth said, explaining that the job is the best one he’s had.

A son of Polish immigrants, Dan Talaniec, 23, of Wethersfield said his interest in firefighting followed a natural progression.

"I always wanted to become a firefighter," he said. "I decided to go to school for it and the interest grew."

Talaniec, whose father is an optician and mother works in a hospital, majored in fire science at the University of New Haven and served as a volunteer firefighter in Wethersfield. He graduated from the fire academy over the summer and has been on the job for a few months.

"It’s great," Talaniec said. "It’s work, but it’s everything I expected it to be."

Branford resident Adam Hansen, 24, comes from a background rooted in education and experience. Hansen graduated from the University of New Haven with a degree in fire science, and was among the four who recently graduated from the fire academy.

He has been a commercial paramedic for four years, and was class valedictorian when he attended paramedic school.

Hansen said that being a paramedic was great because it gave him the opportunity to "help people when they’re in need," but being a firefighter adds something else to the mix.

"It’s different here," he said. "It’s like being part of a family. Everyone is very welcoming here."

Family is the key word for firefighter Eric Mohr, 26.

The Milford native finds himself following in the footsteps of his father, Capt. Richard Mohr, a 32-year veteran of the Milford Fire Department.

"He’s got some tough shoes to fill," said Streit of the younger Mohr, "but he’s doing a great job."

Eric Mohr came to Milford through the Coast Guard Academy and after serving a year as a West Haven firefighter.

Because of the process of becoming a firefighter in Milford, Eric Mohr went through the academy twice, a daunting task considering its 11-week training course and that recruits live there four days a week.

Streit said the younger Mohr was chosen as the platoon leader when he attended the academy over the summer. The position is peer appointed.

Milford resident Mike Gianacopoulos was majoring in marine biology in Hawaii when he realized the life of a marine biologist wasn’t exactly for him.

He became a surf photographer and rescue diver in Hawaii before returning home.

Gianacopoulos said fighting fires was just something he always wanted to do when he was young.

He has a fire science degree from UNH and graduated from the fire academy recently.

"This is the best job in the world," Gianacopoulos said.Rounding out the newest group of recruits is Ryan LaGuardia of Fairfield.

"It was the idea of a common goal and the team atmosphere that really brought me to the job," said LaGuardia, who is married with two children, ages 2 and 4. "It’s been a lifelong dream."

LaGuardia spent the last 13 years as a carpenter.

Like his peers, LaGuardia was also drawn to firefighting because it means helping people in need.

Streit said LaGuardia was the first recipient of an award given at the academy in the name of Michael Riley, a Stratford firefighter killed on the job.

Whatever their backgrounds, the six newest members all agreed that there was one main thing that led them into firefighting and that would most likely make them a success: brotherhood.