ATHOL — Andrew Bond, a firefighter and paramedic in the Athol Fire Department, completed the Firefighting Academy’s 50-day Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program on March 20.
State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Director David C. Evans announced the completion of the academy’s 281st class, which had 34 graduates representing 20 fire departments statewide.
“This is the first class to graduate in these uncertain times with the entire nation facing a pandemic,” said Ostroskey in a press release. “First responders are on the front lines protecting their communities and these new firefighters are needed more now than ever.” MFA Director Evans said, “This rigorous professional training provides our newest firefighters with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.”
The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA), a division of the Department of Fire Services, offers this program tuition-free.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fire Academy did not have a formal graduation, which is a normally a great celebration of the firefighters’ accomplishments. Even though a formal ceremony wasn’t held, Athol Fire Chief Joseph P. Guarnera and the Athol Fire Department want to congratulate firefighter Bond on this great accomplishment.
Students receive classroom training in all basic firefighter skills at the academy. 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.
Students learn all the basic skills they need to respond to, contain and control fires. They receive training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques, and rappelling.