YOUNGSTOWN — Five Youngstown firefighters were sworn in to new jobs Wednesday at the main fire station downtown after being promoted. They took their oath of office in front of a large crowd of family and friends.

But the ceremony also featured two other new leaders — new Youngstown Mayor Derrick McDowell administered the oath of office, and new Youngstown fire Chief Courtney Kelly organized everything.

Kelly said the five promotions took place because of her promotion from captain to chief, leaving a captain’s position open. There also were retirements that resulted in upper level positions being open.

The five newly promoted firefighters are Battalion Chief Jordan Thomas, captains Andre Miller and Josh McHenry and lieutenants Brandon Athey and Zach Whinery.

McHenry said of his new position, “It’s a good opportunity to lead, better myself, and whatever truck I’m on, just take the crew forward and get better in everything we do,” he said.

Wes Athey, Brandon’s father, said he is proud of his son for “the work he does, the time he puts in, the training Youngstown gives him. He loves what he does. Risking his life for other people is a very honorable thing to do.”

As a captain, Kelly worked on a firetruck, fighting fires, she said. She became a Youngstown firefighter in 2006 and also is a paramedic. She became a lieutenant in 2011 and became a captain in 2018. Captain is two positions below the chief.

She is Youngstown’s first woman fire chief. But in addition to her, there are three other women firefighters in the fire suppression part of the department and two women inspectors. The fire department has nearly 120 employees.

Kelly said one of the things the public should know about the Youngstown Fire Department is, “We are multi-faceted, meaning we respond to anything — motor vehicle accidents, structure fires, high-angle and confined-space rescues, HazMat incidents.”

Firefighters are also at times the first emergency responders at the scene, providing basic medical care, such as CPR or first aid, she noted.