BURLINGTON — Chief Michael Patterson and the Burlington Fire Department are pleased to announce that Firefighter Zachary Rolfe graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy today.
On Friday, March 5, Firefighter Rolfe graduated from the 290th class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. Graduates were recognized by Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey at the Department of Fire Services headquarters in Stow with a certificate.
“Congratulations to Firefighter Rolfe for completing this rigorous training, which is a testament to his commitment to provide the best possible service and protection to our community,” Chief Patterson said. “We wish him the best of the luck and look forward to working with him as he takes this next step in his career.”
Firefighter Rolfe is now certified at the level of Firefighter I and II and in hazardous material operation. He is a second-generation firefighter. His father, William Rolfe, is a member of the Concord Fire Department in Concord, Mass.
The intensive 10-week academy for municipal firefighters involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, skills training and live firefighting practice. Previously, the program was nine weeks, but another week has been added to allow for additional time focused on water rescue, power saws, live fire training, and Firefighter I/II practical skills.
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, confined space rescue techniques, and rappelling.
To graduate, firefighters were required to demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack (ranging from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multi-room structural fires).
The other 16 graduates represented the fire departments of Devens, Haverhill, Hudson, Nantucket, North Andover, Orleans, Plymouth, Sudbury, Wilmington, Winchester, and Woburn.
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