WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — East met west in the Williamstown Fire Station on Saturday afternoon.

 

A large contingent of firefighters and their supporters from the other end of the commonwealth were on hand to watch as the Williamstown Fire District officially installed its new chief.

 

And after Jeffrey Dias pledged his service to his new community, his thoughts turned to the people who shaped his career, the last two decades of which he spent with the South Shore community of Onset.

 

"There are some other people I have to mention, my sounding boards who kept me pointed in the right direction for years and years," Dias said. "Chief John Walcek, Wareham Police Department, retired. Chief John Kelley of the Wareham Fire Department and Chief Tim Clancy [Whitman]. It's been a ride.

 

"And to my new fire family, the Williamstown Fire Department, I couldn't ask for a warmer welcome, a more motivated bunch of people, just a really classy organization. And I'm so proud to be here."

 

In addition to the large contingent of well-wishers from Dias' former posting, the brief ceremony in the station's apparatus bay was attended by representatives of the Williamstown Police Department, Northern Berkshire EMS, other local fire services, Williams College and community members.

 

David Moresi, chair of the Prudential Committee that oversees the district, welcomed the large crowd and the successor to longtime Chief Craig Pedercini, who looked on.

 

"I want to express my sincerest thanks to Chief Dias and his wife, Jennifer, for choosing our community," Moresi said. "We know a man with Chief Dias' credentials could have gone to other departments. And we are lucky to have you.

 

"To the chief, thank you for taking the challenge to lead our department to the future. You undoubtedly have your work cut out for you. You are learning each day, but I can say with the utmost sincerity we are all excited for the good times ahead."

 

Deputy Chief Robert Briggs said the excitement is shared by the rank and file of the department.

 

"The guys love him, absolutely love him," Briggs said before the ceremony. "He's making some amazing changes, doing some great things. It's different, but … it's like you read about in the [trade] magazines."

 

Dias, who colleagues describe as a "fire nerd," talked about those who fostered that interest.

 

"As long as I've known that I want to be a firefighter, which goes back to my earliest recollection, probably 4 or 5 years old, my first role models in the fire service — and both of them are year today — my uncle, Scott Lynn, retired Whitman Fire, and Chief Tim Travis with the Whitman Fire Department, retired," Dias said. "They were like giants to me when I was a kid. They made a big impact on who I was and how I was raised.

 

"I really wish my best friend growing up, a guy who still is my idol, the person who fed my passion to become a firefighter, my grandfather Bill Condon, I wish he was here."

 

Dias closed his remarks by, as he put it, saving the best for last.

 

"My wife, she's my rock, she's my cheerleader, she's my whole world," he said. "Her sacrifices so I could get to where I am outweigh any sacrifices I've made."