Four area firefighters—one each from Haverhill and Groveland and two from Georgetown—graduated last Thursday from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Class #81.
Alek Tarpy, Haverhill Fire; Kevin Hendry, Groveland; and Sean Manion Jr. and Bryan Pasdon, both of Georgetown, received certificates of completion from state Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Deputy Director Joseph David C. Klucznik, during a ceremony at Masconomet Regional Middle School, Boxford.
The Call/Volunteer Firefighter Recruit Training program delivers a standard recruit training curriculum, meeting national standards, on nights and weekends to accommodate the schedule of firefighters in suburban and rural areas. In all, there were 27 graduates from 14 fire departments represented.
Students receive classroom training in all basic firefighter skills. They practice first under non-fire conditions and then during controlled fire conditions. To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack. Fire attack operations range from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multiple room structural fires.
Graduates have completed 240 hours of training on nights and weekends. Upon completion, students have met the standards of National Fire Protection Association. They also have the ability to become certified to the level of Firefighter I and II and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operational Level by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council, which is accredited by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications.