Bridgewater — State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA) Director Jeffrey P. Winn announced the graduation of 23 recruits from the MFA Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Program on Wednesday, June 28. The graduates received certificates of completion at a ceremony held at the Department of Fire Services’ Springfield campus.
The graduating firefighters represent the fire departments of Granby, Hampden, Lee, Leicester, Lenox, Northfield, Orange, Palmer, Russell, Shelburne Falls, Sunderland, Three Rivers, Ware, and Warwick.
“First responders are on the front lines of any crisis, and these newest firefighters are needed now more than ever,” said Academy Director Winn. “The rigorous training they’ve completed provides them with the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to protect their communities safely and effectively.”
Video of the ceremony has been posted at the Department of Fire Services’ YouTube channel.
The Call/Volunteer Firefighter Recruit Training Program is unique in that it delivers a standard recruit training curriculum, meeting national standards, on nights and weekends to accommodate the schedule of firefighters in suburban and rural areas. Making the training more accessible means more firefighters can participate and allows them more time to practice training skills with instructors. The MFA, a division of the Department of Fire Services, has offered the program since 2003. About 3,000 call and volunteer recruits have graduated since then.
At the MFA, students learn skills including testing and utilizing equipment such as self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), hydrants, hoses, power tools, and apparatus. Students receive classroom training in all basic firefighter skills. They practice first under non-fire conditions and then during controlled 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.
Graduates have completed 240 hours of training on nights and weekends. Upon successful completion of this program, all students have met the standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001. In addition, they have the ability to become certified to the level of Firefighter I and II and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations Level by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council, which is accredited by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications.
