Sons following in fathers' footsteps in the Mount Vernon Fire Department

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. (WABC) -- A new firefighter in Mount Vernon is following his dreams and following in his father's footsteps.

The father and son are now working together as firefighters in Mount Vernon.

But, this isn't a first for the department.

"It's a dream come true, it's something that I've always wanted to do and I finally got the opportunity to do it," said Joseph Melendez, of the Mount Vernon Fire Department.

It's a dream that goes back to childhood. A picture shows Joe Melendez at 6 years old with his dad Tito.

Now at age 24, he's followed his father's footsteps joining the Mount Vernon Fire Department.

"It's a brotherhood, you're one big family, you sleep with these people, you eat with them, you do everything, so we're pretty close," said Tito Melendez, of the Mount Vernon Fire Department.

Melendez graduated from the academy last week. As a probationary firefighter he'll bounce around.

Officials try and keep fathers and sons in separate units, in part because of the dangerous nature of the job.

Brothers working together in the department are fairly common, but Mount Vernon now sports two father-son firefighting teams, a rarity in a department that has only about 140 members.

"These guys, the fathers, are gems, so if these guys turn out like their fathers we'll have no problem whatsoever," said Fire Commissioner Noah Lighty, of the Mount Vernon Fire Department.

Anthony Piscopo, Jr. has a year and a half on the job and big footsteps to fill. Anthony Senior is a 28-year veteran.

"I look at him differently here, it's like he's held so highly up here, and at home he's just dad, so it's just totally different," said Anthony Piscopo, Jr., of the Mount Vernon Fire Department.

"The guys tell me, 'Oh your son did this, he did this, he did good,' you know prouder than I could ever be," said Anthony Piscopo, Sr., of the Mount Vernon Fire Department.

Another probie is Dennis Solano who knew he would take after his dad Dennis Senior, who's now retired.

"One time I got the opportunity when I was younger to sleep at the firehouse, I was probably around the age of 12, and then I knew I was hooked," said Dennis Solano, of the Mount Vernon Fire Department.

The probies will have their first full tour next week; another generation proving protecting Mount Vernon's families is a family affair.