East Liverpool welcomes four new firefighters: Matthew Gordon, Clayton Elliott, CJ Glista and Shayne Hamilton. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

The firefighters are in addition to the Firefighter CJ (Chester) Glista sworn in on Jan. 5.

While Glista and Elliot are new to firefighting, Hamilton and Gordon bring a combined total of nearly 45 year’s experience with them.

Hamilton comes to the fire department from the Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) where he has served since 2010 and has been the assistant fire chief and EMS captain since 2024.

Hamilton made the decision to leave CVFD and join and the East Liverpool fire department because he has always had a dream of being a paid full-time firefighter.

Clayton Elliott is sworn in by Mayor Bobby Smith. (Photo courtesy of Lt. Alex Estell, East Liverpool Fire Department)

“I have always wanted to come down here and just never have and finally decided to do it, to take the leap and chase my dreams,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said it doesn’t bother him to go from assistant chief to firefighter, as he understands joining a new department means having to work his way up and earn his positions whatever they end up being.

Hamilton said his fellow crewmembers at CVFD who were at his swearing in ceremony for ELFD are happy for him, but also sad to see him go.

“I’m excited and looking forward to starting my career here,” Hamilton said. “Calcutta will always be family no matter what.”

Gordon, 57, Canfield, has been a firefighter/paramedic for 33 years. He retired from fire service in Trumbull County to be the EMS director for Trumbull Hospital.

Shayne Hamilton is joined by his wife Courtney and their daughter Avalynn for his swearing in and badge pinning. (Photo courtesy of Lt. Alex Estell, East Liverpool Fire Department)

“This department in particular, I was friends with (Safety Service Director) Bill Jones for many years and I watched him build up this department and respond to what this city needed and everything, and I know he has his work cut out for him” Gordon said on why he joined the ELFD. “Now I see that Chief (Antony) Cumo with the EMS and everything and I like forward thinking people and I like when people are responding to what they need around their community, and this department has shown to do that.”

Gordon has also worked in the East Liverpool area for 15 years with Lifeteam.

Gordon said that when they posted the position, he figured he would give it a shot, and he is glad for the opportunity.

Jones said that getting these two already trained and experienced is a big plus for the department.

Hamilton joined A shift on Jan. 19, and Gordon will be on B shift Jan. 20.

Matthew Gordon is sworn in by Mayor Bobby Smith. (Photo courtesy of Lt. Alex Estell, East Liverpool Fire Department)

Elliott, 28, a U.S. Army veteran, who is originally from the Lisbon/Rogers area, decided to go into firefighting after finding the multiple jobs he held after leaving the Army unfulfilling and monotonous.

During his four years in the Army at Fort Campbell, where he served as a Blackhawk mechanic, Elliott said he experienced a sense of being out there to help people, wanting to do the right thing and a sense of duty.

“Since I left the military, I have really been missing that and mean a lot,” Elliot said. “So, I seen the ad and my partner talked about it and I just went for it and so here I am.”

Elliot joined the crew on the C shift on Jan. 18, and according to Cumo, since he is the only one who was hired with no certifications, will be starting fire school on Jan. 20. Once he completes fire school, he will start EMT school.

“They will all go through on-the-job training for the next month and a half before M2 (Medic 2) is officially placed into service,” Cumo said. “Also, by hiring these three, we will now have the ability to have four firefighters on our ladder truck for structure fires, helping us meet a national standard.”

CJ Glista’s badge is pinned on him by his mom Shayna Glista and his dad, Assistant Chief Jason Glista. (Photo courtesy of Lt. Alex Estell, East Liverpool Fire Department)

Glista, 18, Canfield, who is the son of Assistant Fire Chief Jason Glista, said his growing up around fire service, due to his dad being a firefighter, gave him a glimpse into what it was all about. He then decided to go to school for it and played hockey up until his senior year, before taking classes at Mahoning County Career and Technical Center and he fell in love with fire service.

“This is where I wanted to come work since I grew up seeing the community and seeing how the guys here operated. It was just something I really wanted to be a part of,” he said.

Glista said his first weeks on the department have been good with all the crew being great to him and teaching him what he needs to know.

Glista was hired to bring the department to full staffing level so they could hire Hamilton, Gordon and Elliott through the SAFER grant, which the department has been trying to get four years.

Jones said the SAFER grant was a great thing for Cumo to obtain and he is very appreciative of Cumo’s effort and of the new firefighters who chose to choose the ELFD to work their careers out and he expects good things out of thing.

CJ Glista takes his oath administered by Mayor Bobby Smith. (Photo courtesy of Lt. Alex Estell, East Liverpool Fire Department)

Smith said the SAFER grant pays the wages the three firefighters sworn in on Thursday, and the city will assume paying their wages after that. He also said it is exciting to get more people in the department.

“It’s great to see the fire department expand as it has over the years,” Smith said.

Lt. Alex Estell noted that having this many new firefighters is a benefit to the other firefighters who can freshen up their skills in the process of training the new firefighters.

With the four new hires the department now has a staff of 19, with six firefighters on three shifts and the chief.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com

Matthew Gordon is pinned with his badge by wife Joni. (Photo courtesy of Lt. Alex Estell, East Liverpool Fire Department)

Shayne Hamilton takes his oath administered by Mayor Bobby Smith. (Photo courtesy of Lt. Alex Estell, East Liverpool Fire Department)

Clayton Elliott gets pinned with his badge by Alexandria Curran with his son. (Photo courtesy of Lt. Alex Estell, East Liverpool Fire Department)