Timothy Harhen, Fire Chief
268 Bedford St.
East Bridgewater, MA 02333
For Immediate Release
Monday, Nov. 19, 2018
Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net
East Bridgewater Firefighter Graduates from Massachusetts Firefighting Academy
EAST BRIDGEWATER — Chief Timothy Harhen is pleased to announce that an East Bridgewater firefighter graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy today.
Firefighter Preston Klem, age 38, was among 38 firefighters from 28 fire departments to graduate from the academy’s 268th class. Graduates were recognized at a ceremony at the Department of Fire Services headquarters in Stow.
The 10-week program teaches the essentials of fire and non-fire conditions, life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack. Firefighter Klem is now certified at the level of Firefighter I and II and in hazardous materials first responder operation.
Firefighter Klem, who is a resident of East Bridgewater, is a former sergeant in the U.S. Army and served overseas before being honorably discharged. He has served as a call firefighter for the East Bridgewater Fire Department and previously worked as an emergency medical technician for Brewster Ambulance. He is currently assigned to Group 3 for EBFD.
“I want to congratulate Preston on graduating from the academy and applaud him for taking the next step in his career,” Chief Harhen said. “With his experience in the military and as a paramedic, Preston brings a high quality set of skills and experience to our department.”
The other 37 graduates represented the fire departments of Acton, Burlington, Canton, Chelsea, Danvers, Fairhaven, Fitchburg, Gardner, Gloucester, Hanover, Haverhill, Hingham, Hopkinton, Maynard, Methuen, Newton, North Andover, Norwell, Randolph, Scituate, Seekonk, Walpole, Wayland, Wellfleet, West Bridgewater, Westford and Weymouth.
The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy:
At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, firefighter recruits learn a wide range of skills in an intensive 10-week program. Certified and more experienced firefighters lead classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training and firefighting practice. Students are given training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques and rappelling. Upon successful completion of the Recruit Program, all students have met national standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001.
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