- Department of Fire Services
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Jake Wark, Public Information Officer
STOW — State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine today announced the graduation of 88 new career, call, and volunteer firefighters this week during ceremonies at all three Massachusetts Firefighting Academy campuses.
“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 will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.”
“Massachusetts Firefighting Academy instructors draw on decades of experience in the fire service to train new recruits,” said Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Director Eric Littmann. “Through consistent classroom instruction and practical exercises, today’s graduates have developed the tools they’ll need to work seamlessly with veteran firefighters in their home departments and in neighboring communities as mutual aid.”
Career Recruit Class #S37
The 17 firefighters of Career Recruit Training Class #S37 graduated at the Department of Fire Services' Springfield campus on the morning of June 24. They represent the fire departments of Amherst, Athol, Auburn, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Northampton, Seekonk, West Springfield, and Westfield. Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier presented them with certificates of completion.
The Richard N. Bangs Outstanding Student Award, which is presented to one member of each graduating career recruit class, was presented to Firefighter Keith Bosse of the Seekonk Fire Department. The award is named for the longtime chair of the Massachusetts Fire Training Council and reflects the recruit’s academic and practical skills, testing, and evaluations over the course of the program.
Call/Volunteer Recruit Class #112
The 27 firefighters of Call/Volunteer Recruit Training Class #112 graduated at the Department of Fire Services' Springfield campus on the evening of June 24. They represent the fire departments of Adams, Brimfield, Granby, Hadley, Huntington, Lee, Leverett, Orange, Palmer, Richmond, South Hadley Fire District 1, Southwick, Three Rivers, Tyringham, Warren, Warwick, and Whately. Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier presented them with certificates of completion.
The Martin H. McNamara Outstanding Student Award was presented to Firefighter Max Arvidson of the Hadley Fire Department. 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 member of each graduating call/volunteer training class and recognizes their academic and practical skills, testing, and evaluations over the course of the program.
Call/Volunteer Recruit Class #113
The 25 firefighters of Call/Volunteer Recruit Class #113 graduated on June 27 at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy's Stow campus. They represent the fire departments of Boylston, Carlisle, Grafton, Haverhill, Holland, Hopedale, Lincoln, Millis, Millville, Northbridge, Oakham, Paxton, Rutland, Shirley, Tyngsborough, Uxbridge, Wenham, and Weston. Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier presented them with certificates of completion. The Martin H. McNamara Outstanding Student Award was presented to Firefighter Jake Braga of the Paxton Fire Department.
Career Recruit Class #BW30
The 19 firefighters of Class #BW30 graduated on June 28 at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy's Bridgewater campus. They represent the fire departments of Avon, Brewster, Bridgewater, Canton, Eastham, Hanson, Hull, Hyannis, Plymouth, Provincetown, Randolph, Scituate, Seekonk, Walpole, Whitman, and Yarmouth. Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier presented them with certificates of completion. The Richard N. Bangs Outstanding Student Award, which is presented to one recruit in each graduating class, was presented to Firefighter Chloe Higginbotham of the Hyannis Fire Department.
Basic Firefighter Skills
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.
Today’s Firefighters Do Much More than Fight Fires
Modern firefighters train for and respond to all types of hazards and emergencies. They are the first ones called to respond to chemical and environmental emergencies, ranging from the suspected presence of carbon monoxide to gas leaks to industrial chemical spills. They may be called to rescue a child who has fallen through the ice, an office worker stuck in an elevator, or a motorist trapped in a crashed vehicle. They test and maintain their equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), hydrants, hoses, power tools, and apparatus.
At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, recruits 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 recruit program involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training, and live firefighting practice.
The MFA provides recruit and in-service training for career, call, and volunteer firefighters at every level of experience, from recruit to chief officer, at campuses in Stow, Springfield, and Bridgewater.
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