GEORGETOWN — Chief Fred A. Mitchell Jr. is pleased to announce that a member of the Georgetown Fire Department graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy’s Call/Volunteer training program this past weekend.
Capt. Matthew McKay is one of 29 graduates from the MFA’s Call/Volunteer Firefighter Training Class 89. He officially completed the program on Saturday, Feb. 27. A formal graduation ceremony was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the 16 week training, firefighters learned the basic skills they need to respond to fires, including how to contain and control them, public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, firefighter self-rescue and vehicle extrication.
In order to graduate, firefighters completed 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.
“Congratulations to Capt. McKay for completing this rigorous training,” Chief Mitchell said. “We are grateful for his commitment and dedication to this field, and for always striving to provide the highest quality service to our residents.”
Capt. McKay has worked for the fire department for the last 19 years and was promoted to his current rank in 2018. He is a member of the Erie Fire Company Association as well.
The other graduates represent the fire departments of Boxford, Dunstable, Essex, Hamilton, Haverhill, Lincoln, Lynnfield, Merrimac, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, Topsfield, and Wenham.
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