(from the city of Somerville) State Fire Marshall Stephen D. Coan and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Director Edmund M. Walker are pleased to announce the graduation of the 187th class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy's sixty-day Recruit Firefighting Program on June 11, 2010. The ceremony took place at the Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough, MA. There were forty-six graduates representing twenty departments including seven members of the Somerville Fire Department. They are: Christopher Clark, David Farino, Robert Galvin, Sean Layton, Keith McInnis, Timothy O'Hearn and Jason Ruf.

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 accidents. They test and maintain their equipment, ranging from self-contained breathing apparatus to hydrants to hoses, power tools, and apparatus.

At the Massachuetts 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, 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 practice.

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 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.

The Somerville Fire Department is very proud of our recruits' achievements in completing the Academy and looks forward to having them serve the community as members of our Department.