MARION — Chief Brian Jackvony is pleased to announce that Firefighter Ronnie-Scott Owens graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA) on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
Firefighter Owens was among the 33 firefighters representing 14 departments to graduate from the MFA’s Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Class #87. Graduates were recognized during a ceremony at the Fall River headquarters Wednesday.
The other 32 graduates represented the fire departments of Avon, Berkley, Dartmouth-District 1, Dartmouth-District 3, Dighton, Freetown, Halifax, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Plympton, Raynham, Wareham and Westport.
“I’d like to congratulate Firefighter Owens on his commitment to his training and his graduation from the Academy this week,” Chief Jackvony said. “The comprehensive training that recruits receive at the Academy ensures that they are well prepared with the skills and knowledge they need to serve their community.”
Firefighter Owens is a U.S. Army Veteran who deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009-10. He became an EMT-B in 2018 and a recruit firefighter for Marion Fire/EMS in 2019. Firefighter Owens is currently in school to become an advanced EMT.
During their time at the MFA, firefighters learn the basic skills they need to respond to fires, including how to contain and control them, public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquid control, stress management, firefighter self-rescue and vehicle extrication.
To graduate, firefighters were required to complete 240 hours of training, all on nights and weekends, while demonstrating proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack in situations ranging from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multi-room structural fires. Upon successful completion of this program, all students have met the standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001.
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