Kevin Partridge, Fire Chief
413 Bay Road
South Easton, MA 02375
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019
Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net
Easton Firefighter Graduates from Massachusetts Firefighter Academy
EASTON — Chief Kevin Partridge is pleased to announce that Firefighter Joseph Polito graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA) on Friday, Aug. 9.
Firefighter Polito was among the 37 firefighters representing 23 fire departments to graduate from the MFA’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Class 275. Graduates were recognized at a ceremony at the Massachusetts 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.
Polito was also presented with a Senate and House Citation on behalf of Sen. Walter Timilty, Sen. Mike Brady and Rep. Claire Cronin.
Polito, age 27, was appointed to the department in December 2018. He previously worked as a paramedic for Brewster Ambulance Service for four years and as an EMT for EasCare Ambulance Service.
Following his graduation from the academy, Polito is now certified as a Firefighter I/II and certified in Hazmat Operations.
Polito’s first shift assigned to Group 4 under Capt. Larry Blye will be Thursday, Aug. 15.
“On behalf of the Easton Fire Department, I would like to congratulate Firefighter Polito on this accomplishment. The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy provides a rigorous and comprehensive training program for the state’s firefighters,” Chief Partridge said. “I am confident Firefighter Polito will serve the Easton community well.”
The other 36 graduates represented the fire departments of Beverly, Canton, Fairhaven, Foxborough, Gloucester, Holden, Hopkinton, Mansfield, Medfield, Methuen, Milford, Nahant, Norwood, Reading, Saugus, Scituate, Seekonk, Swampscott, Watertown, Westborough, Westwood and Winchester.
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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