Lynnfield Fire Dept. Recruits Complete Academy Training

The following was provided by the Lynnfield Fire Department:

Four recruit firefighters completed the Massachusetts Fire Academy’s Call/Firefighter Recruit Firefighter Training program Sunday.  The program, which began on July 18, is a specialized training program aimed at training firefighters from fire departments that are either volunteer or “call” departments.  Lynnfield is a predominantly “call” department, known as a combination department. 

The Call/Volunteer program is unique in that it delivers standard recruit training curriculum, meeting national standards, on nights and weekends to accommodate the schedule of firefighters in suburban and rural areas.  Bringing the training closer to the firefighter often means more firefighters can participate.  This program was held in the town of Hamilton to accommodate firefighters in Essex County. 

Graduates from Mass Fire Academy Class #039 include Sean Dillon, Mark Smallenberger, Adam Hashian, and Justin Levesque, all of Lynnfield.   Students receive classroom instruction in all basic firefighting 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 structure fires.  In this program, firefighters learn form certified fire instructors who are experienced firefighters from all over Massachusetts.  Students learn all the basic skills they need to respond to fires and to contain and control them.

Upon successful completion of the Call/Volunteer program, all four of these firefighters are Pro Board certified as “Firefighter I and II” by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council.  In addition to Firefighter I/II certification, all four firefighters are licensed Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT-Basic).  “Today’s firefighters do much more than fight fires,” said Assistant Chief John Walsh, the Lynnfield Fire Department’s Training Officer. “They are the first ones called to respond to medical emergencies or chemical and environmental threats ranging from carbon monoxide to gas leaks.  They may be called to rescue a child who fell through the ice or in water.  They rescue people from stalled elevators and those trapped in motor vehicle crashes using the Jaws of Life,” said Walsh.

“I am very proud of what these young men have accomplished.  We now have a system that not only provides excellent training at a state-of-the-art training facility, it also provides for FF I/II certification according to national standards.  They all showed a great deal of commitment and determination as well as a very high skill level,” said Lynnfield Fire Chief Thomas Bogart.

Graduation is set for Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at Masconomet Regional High School, 20 Endicott Road in Boxford at 7:30 p.m.