STOW, MA — Wilmington’s Mike Rideout was among the 25 graduates in the 231st class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Director George D. Kramlinger announced the graduation of the 231st class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s forty-five-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program on July 31, 2015. “This rigorous professional training provides our newest firefighters with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely,” said State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan. The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA), a division of the Department of Fire Services, offers this program, tuition-free. The ceremony took place at the Department of Fire Services in Stow, MA.
25 Graduates from 15 Fire Departments
The 25 graduates, all men, represent the 15 fire departments of: Amesbury, Athol, Bedford, Belmont, Cohasset, Fitchburg, Kingston, Lawrence, Ludlow, Mashpee, Medford, Middleton, Northampton, Wilmington, and Yarmouth.
Guest Speaker Fitchburg Fire Chief Kevin Roy
Fitchburg Fire Chief Kevin Roy was the guest speaker. Chief Roy has been a member of the fire service for over 40 years, 35 of which has been as a full time, permanent Fire Officer. He is currently in his 21st year as Chief of the Department. Since 2000, Chief Roy has served as the Chairperson of the District 6 Steering Committee for the Hazardous Materials Response Team, whose responsibilities include oversight and appointment to the district Hazmat Team. Chief Roy has also served as President of Mid-state Mutual Aid Fire Chiefs and has served as both Vice President and a member of the board of directors of the Central Mass Emergency Medical Services Corporation.
Today’s Firefighters Do Far More than Fight Fires
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 crashes. They test and maintain their equipment including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), hydrants, hoses, power tools, and apparatus.
At the Massachusetts Firefighting 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, confined space rescue techniques, and rappelling. The intensive, nine-week program for municipal firefighters involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training, and live firefighting practice.
Starting with Class #200, the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy changed its training format from 72 students in a 12-week program to a smaller class size of 24 students that starts every three weeks. There are still 72 students on campus at any one time, but the smaller class size is expected to achieve time efficiencies without compromising learning, and in fact improve education with smaller student/instructor ratios.
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. Upon successful completion of the Recruit Program all students have met national standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001 and are certified to the level of Firefighter I and II, and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operational Level by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council, which is accredited by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications.
(NOTE: The above photo was shared by Fire Chief Rick McClellan on Twitter. The above (modified) press release is from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. Got a photo you’d like to share with Wilmington? Email wilmingtonapple@gmail.com.)
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