Waltham Firefighters Complete Rigorous Professional Training

Chief Keough of the Waltham Fire Department is pleased to announce the graduation of Firefighters Damon J. Ferranti, Melissa Lelievre, Mark D. O’Neil, and Brendan M. Walsh from Class #165 of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s fifty-five day Recruit Firefighting Program, Friday, November 19, 2004. This rigorous professional training provides our newest firefighters with the basic skills to effectively and safely perform their jobs. This program is offered, tuition-free by the Massachusetts Fire Academy: a division of the Department of Fire Services.

Today’s Fire Department Does Much 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 hydrant to 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, water rescue procedures, confined space rescue techniques, and rappelling. The intensive, eleven—week program for municipal firefighters involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training and Fire firefighting practice.

Basic Firefighter Skills

Students receive classroom training in all basic firefighter skills. They practice first under nonfire 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 and are certified to the level of Firefighter I and II by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council.