Plymouth Firefighters Thomas (left) and Gellar graduated from the academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class 293 on Friday, July 23. (Photo courtesy Massachusetts Fire Academy) 
A total of 23 firefighters from 17 departments graduated from the academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class 293 on Friday, July 23. (Photo courtesy Massachusetts Fire Academy)
PLYMOUTH — Chief G. Edward Bradley is pleased to announce that two legacy members of the Plymouth Fire Department graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy today.
Firefighters Tyler Thomas and Edward Gellar, Jr. were among 23 firefighters from 17 departments to graduate from the academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class 293 on Friday, July 23. Graduates were recognized at a ceremony at the Department of Fire Services headquarters in Stow.
“Both Firefighters Thomas and Gellar are following in their family’s footsteps working within fire services at the Plymouth Fire Department,” Chief Bradley said. “I look forward to watching these two young men grow in their careers and the positive impact they will have on the community they serve.”
Firefighter Thomas’s father, Lt. Eric Thomas, is a 12-year veteran Fire Lieutenant with the Plymouth Fire Department. Firefighter Gellar’s father, Edward Gellar, Sr., is the Department’s Chief Master Mechanic, a position he’s held for the past 19 years. Firefighter Gellar’s grandfather, Peter Gellar, was also a Plymouth Fire Captain before retiring from the Department in 2002.
Firefighters Thomas and Gellar joined the department in January. Prior to attending the Massachusetts Fire Academy they both completed in-house training at the department. Both will be working out of the Headquarters Station on Engine 1 beginning next week. Firefighter Thomas is assigned to Group 3 and Firefighter Gellar is assigned to Group 1.
The 10-week program teaches the essentials of fire and non-fire conditions, lfe safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack. Firefighters Thomas and Gellar are now certified at the level of Firefighter I and II and in hazardous material operation.
The other graduates represent the fire departments of Auburn, Braintree,
Charlton, Clinton, Devens, Gloucester, Hopkinton, Middleton, Nantucket, Newton, Norfolk, North Andover, Northborough, Reading, Tewksbury, and Weston.
About 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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