- Department of Fire Services
Media Contact
Jake Wark, Public Information Officer
STOW — State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine announced the graduation of four dozen recruits from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Program this week, including Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier.
On the evening of March 4, the 21 members of Call/Volunteer Recruit Class #117 graduated in a ceremony at Lynnfield Middle School. They represent the fire departments of Essex, Hamilton, Haverhill, Lincoln, Lynnfield, Nahant, Newburyport, Topsfield, and Wenham. The next night, Call/Volunteer Recruit Class #116 graduated at the Department of Fire Services’ main campus in Stow. These graduates, who included Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier, represent the fire departments of Carlisle, Dover, Grafton, Harvard, Holliston, Hopedale, Lancaster, Mendon, Millis, Millville, Norfolk, Northbridge, Pepperell, Sherborn, and Sterling.
“Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever,” said State Fire Marshal Davine. “The hundreds of hours of foundational training they’ve received on nights and weekends will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely. This is a tremendous accomplishment for all our graduates, and I’m especially proud of Deputy State Fire Marshal Fournier, who completed the program while helping to manage the day-to-day operations of our agency.”
Deputy Marshal Fournier, who represents the Sterling Fire Department, has served in her leadership position since 2017, including three years as acting director of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. Prior to that, she served for five years as the highest-ranking civilian employee of the Massachusetts State Police and as the Department of Fire Services’ director of human resources and director of administrative services. Her accomplishments at DFS include overseeing the renovation and expansion of the Department’s main campus in Stow, the acquisition and build-out of its Springfield campus, the rapid expansion of remote Academy training and other health protection measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing development of the agency’s newest campus in Bridgewater, and the professional management of nearly 1,000 full-time and contract employees.
“Massachusetts Firefighting Academy instructors draw on decades of experience in the fire service to train new recruits,” said MFA Deputy Director of Training Dennis A. Ball. “Through consistent classroom instruction and practical exercises, tonight’s graduates have developed the tools they’ll need to protect their communities.”
Two graduates were recognized with the Martin H. McNamara Outstanding Student Award. The award is named for Martin “Marty” McNamara V, a call firefighter with the Lancaster Fire Department who lost his life in the line of duty in 2003 while battling a fire in a multifamily home. It is presented to one recruit in each graduating call/volunteer training class and recognizes their academic and practical skills, testing, and evaluations over the course of the 15-week program.
Haverhill Firefighter Ryan Wentworth received the McNamara Award for Class #117, and Norfolk Firefighter Christopher Watson received the McNamara Award for Class #116.
The MFA’s Call/Volunteer Firefighter Recruit Training Program delivers a standard recruit training curriculum, meeting national standards, on nights and weekends to accommodate the schedule of firefighters in suburban and rural departments who work full-time jobs or go to school. Making the training more accessible means more firefighters can participate and allows them more time to practice training skills with instructors. The program has been offered since 2003 and trained about 3,500 recruits to date.
Today’s Firefighters Do Far More than Fight Fires
Today’s firefighters train for all types of hazards and emergencies. They are the first ones called to chemical and environmental emergencies, ranging from the suspected presence of carbon monoxide to Fentanyl overdoses or a gas leak. They may be called to rescue children who have fallen through the ice or locked themselves in a bathroom. They rescue people from stalled elevators and crashed vehicles. They must test, maintain, and utilize equipment such as self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), hydrants, hoses, power tools, and apparatus.
At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, they learn all these skills and more, including the latest science of fire behavior and suppression tactics, from certified fire instructors. They also receive training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, and self-rescue techniques. The intensive program involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training, and live firefighting practice.
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 national standards of NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications. They may additionally seek certification to the level of Firefighter I/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.
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