Two graduate from fire academy
By Chris Klingenberg/Staff Writer

State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Director Edmund M. Walker announced the graduation of the 180th Class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s 60-day Recruit Firefighting Program on June 20.

Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Class 180

Coan said, “This rigorous professional training provides our newest firefighter with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.” The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, a division of the department of Fire Services, offers this program tuition free. The ceremony took place at the Nashoba Regional High School in Bolton.

Bedford firefighters Matt Busa and Mike Sargent graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy on June 20.

“It is good to get two new guys onboard,” Chief David Grunes said. “It is nice to get two new recruits starting at the same time that I am becoming chief. These two guys really bring a strong commitment. They also really bring a strong sense of infectious enthusiasm.”

The 72 graduates, all men, represent the 44 departments of Agawam, Andover, Auburn, Bedford, Beverly, Billerica, Brockton, Burlington, Charlton, Cohasset, Dennis, Dracut, Easthampton, Everett, Falmouth, Gloucester, Holyoke, Lakeville, Lexington, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Mansfield, Methuen, Middleborough, North Andover, North Attleboro, Northbridge, Norton, Orleans, Peabody, Plymouth, Reading, Salem, Sandwich, Scituate, Sharon, Somerville, Sturbridge, Upton, Walpole, Wayland, Westfield, Westminster, Winchester, Winthrop and Yarmouth.

Brockton Fire Chief and Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts past President Kenneth Galligan was guest speaker. Chief Galligan is a 40-year veteran of the fire service who has been chief since 1993. He is a former academy instructor who shared with the recruits the importance of continued training.

Today’s firefighters do far more than fight fires. They are the first ones called to respond to chemical and environmental emergencies ranging from the suspected presence of carbon monoxide to a gas leak. They may be called to rescue a child who has fallen through the ice or who has locked himself in a bathroom. They rescue people from stalled elevators and those who are trapped in vehicle accidents. They test and maintain their equipment, ranging from self-contained breathing apparatus to hydrants to hoses, power tools and apparatus.

At the Massachusetts Firefighters Academy they learn all these skills and more from certified fire instructors who are also experienced firefighters. Students learn all the basic skills they need to respond to fires and to contain and control them. They are also given training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, water rescue procedures, confined space rescue techniques and rappelling. The intensive, 12-week program for municipal firefighters; involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training and live fire firefighting practice.

Students receive classroom training and all basic firefighter skills. They practice first under non-fire conditions. To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack. Fire attack operations range from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multiple room structural fires. Upon successful completion of the recruit program all students have met national standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001 and are eligible to be certified to the level of Firefighter I and II and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operational Level by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council.

Article published in the Lowell Sun, Thursday, June 26, 2008