Anthony Stowers, Fire Chief, EFO/CFO
1 Summer St.
Maynard, MA 01754
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-9003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Maynard Firefighters Graduate from Massachusetts Firefighting Academy
MAYNARD — Chief Anthony Stowers is pleased to announce that four Maynard firefighters graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy yesterday.
On Monday, Nov. 19, firefighters Jack Bertonassi, Brian Kramer, Alex Martinec and Edwin Wasiuk were among the 38 firefighters from 28 fire departments to graduate from the academy’s 268th class. They were recognized at a ceremony 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. Firefighters Bertonassi, Kramer, Martinec and Wasiuk are now certified at the level of Firefighter I and II and in hazardous materials first responder operation.
“We are extremely proud of our graduates. All of them did very well throughout the program,” Chief Stowers said. “We are eager to see them return to help protect the citizens of Maynard.”
For the second time, firefighter Martinec earned the award for outstanding student in the class. He previously won the award when he was in the Call/Volunteer program last year. Firefighter Bertonassi, class spokesperson, gave an inspiring speech to fellow graduates urging them to keep training throughout their careers.
The other 34 graduates represented the fire departments of Acton, Burlington, Canton, Chelsea, Danvers, East Bridgewater, Fairhaven, Fitchburg, Gardner, Gloucester, Hanover, Haverhill, Hingham, Hopkinton, 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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