Eric Smith, Fire Chief
8 School St.
Gloucester, MA 01930
For Immediate Release
Friday, March 8, 2019
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Gloucester Firefighter Graduates from Massachusetts Firefighting Academy
GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith is pleased to announce that Firefighter Sean Ellis graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA) Friday.
On Friday, March 8, Firefighter Ellis was among the 36 firefighters representing 23 fire departments to graduate from the MFA’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Class 271. Graduates were recognized at a ceremony at the Department of Fire Services headquarters in Stow Friday.
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 Ellis, age 26, a lifelong Gloucester resident, was hired by the Gloucester Fire Department in February 2018. A Navy veteran, he served on the USS McFaul DDG 74 in Norfolk, Virginia for four years as a damage controlman, third class. He is a certified paramedic, and holds an associate’s degree in fire science from North Shore Community College.
“The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy prepares firefighters with a rigorous, comprehensive training,” Chief Smith said. “Firefighter Ellis worked extremely hard to complete this program, and I am proud of his commitment to serve the city of Gloucester and better his firefighting skills.”
The other 35 graduates represented the fire departments of Andover, Attleboro, Bourne, Franklin, Haverhill, Hyannis, Littleton, Malden, Marlborough, Medford, Medway, Raynham, Revere, Salem, Sandwich, Stoughton, Sturbridge, Wakefield, Waltham, Wayland, West Bridgewater and Yarmouth.
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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