June Call/Volunteer Class #113 included 25 graduates from 18 communities

In June, State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Director Eric S. Littmann announced the graduation of 25 recruits from the most recent Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Program. 

The graduates included Millis firefighters Damian Benitez and Ryan Smith. Each graduate received a certificate of completion at a ceremony held at the Department of Fire Services’ Stow campus.

In addition to Millis, the graduating firefighters of Call/Volunteer Recruit Class #113 represent the fire departments of Boylston, Carlisle, Grafton, Haverhill, Holland, Hopedale, Lincoln, Millville, Northbridge, Oakham, Paxton, Rutland, Shirley, Tyngsborough, Uxbridge, Wenham, and Weston.

 “Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever,” said State Fire Marshal Davine. “The hundreds of hours of foundational training they’ve received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.”

 Video of the ceremony can be found at www.youtube.com/dfsosfm.

 The Call/Volunteer Firefighter Recruit Training Program is unique in that it delivers a standard recruit training curriculum, meeting national standards, on nights and weekends to accommodate the schedule of firefighters in suburban and rural areas. Making the training more accessible means more firefighters can participate and allows them more time to practice training skills with instructors.

 The MFA, a division of the Department of Fire Services, has offered the program since 2003. More than 3,000 call and volunteer recruits have graduated since then.

Graduates have completed 240 hours of training on nights and weekends. Upon successful completion of this program, all students have met the standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001. In addition, they have the ability to become certified to the level of Firefighter I/II and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations Level by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council, which is accredited by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications.