GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith is pleased to announce that a member of the Gloucester Fire Department graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy on Friday.
Firefighter Ishi King was 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.
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.
“I am very proud of Firefighter King for completing this intensive program, and I am confident that he has gained the crucial skills needed to protect and serve our community.” Chief Smith said. “On behalf of the department, I would like to congratulate Firefighter King on his achievement and wish him a long and successful career in firefighting.”
Firefighter King is now certified at the level of Firefighter I and II and in hazardous material operation.
Other graduates represent the fire departments of Auburn, Braintree, Charlton, Clinton, Devens, Hopkinton, Middleton, Nantucket, Newton, Norfolk, North Andover, Northborough, Plymouth, 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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