Staff reports 5:44 a.m.
Thursday, January 12, 2017 5:42 am

From left, newly hied Rochester firefighters Joshua Biron and Kevin Banks. (Courtesy Photo)

ROCHESTER - Rochester Fire Chief Norman Sanborn announced two new hires at the department on Wednesday.

Firefighters Kevin Banks and Joshua Biron were officially appointed to the department on Sunday.

Banks currently serves as a staff sergeant in the New Hampshire Air National Guard and previously served as a lieutenant of the Pease Fire Department, which is located on the New Hampshire Air National Guard base. He is a nationally registered EMT, a certified Firefighter I/II, and holds numerous rescue certifications.

Biron comes to Rochester after serving as a career firefighter/EMT in Somersworth. He is currently a lieutenant at the Milton Fire-Rescue call department. A New Hampshire native, Biron applied his degree in trade and technical skills toward certification in Firefighter I, Firefighter II and Firefighter III Ice Rescue.

"On behalf of the department, I'd like to welcome both Firefighter Banks and Firefighter Biron to Rochester," Sanborn said in a press release. "Their prior experience as command staff will surely be an asset to both the department and our local community."