Dudley and Oxford firefighters graduate from Firefighting Academy

By Patriot staff; photos follow

STOW – Three local firefighters graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Call Firefighter Recruit Training course in a ceremony held at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy in Stow, Mass. in front of a group of family, friends, and coworkers, on Thursday evening, Dec. 20.

For the last four months, these recruits have taken part in a rigorous training program focused on the essential skills needed to become a nationally certified firefighter.  Certified Instructors at the academy provided the recruit firefighters with the knowledge and the hands-on experience that will help integrate each of them into their departments, as well as keep them safe on the job.  During their training, the firefighters learned about fire behavior, ventilation, forcible entry, hose handling, hazardous materials operations, ladders, search and rescue, and a myriad of other subject matter that a firefighter must learn to perform their job in a safe, effective manner.

Dudley Fire Chief Dean Kochanowski  was in attendance to present certificates of completion to Dudley Firefighters Adam Bernard and Charles J. McGowan.  Each recruit had his badge pinned on him by a relative. Firefighter Bernard receiving his badge from his uncle, Worcester Fire Lieutenant Bert Davis, and Firefighter McGowan was pinned by his mother, Jane McGowan.

Oxford Fire Captain Ken Sellers filled in for Oxford Fire Chief Sherri Bemis, who was unable to attend the ceremony, and presented Firefighter Nick Donahue his certificate and badge. 

All in all, the citizens of Dudley and Oxford can sleep a little safer knowing that their firefighters made a commitment to learn as much about this job as possible, and to continue their training to remain an effective part of their town’s firefighting team.    

Congratulation to the recruits on a job well done!

Photos:

Dudley Fire Chief Dean Kochanowski, Dudley Firefighter Adam Bernard,
and his uncle, Worcester Fire Lieutenant Bert Davis.

Dudley Firefighter Charles J. McGowan (c) has his badge pinned on
by his mother Jane McGowan (r), as Chief Dean Kochanowski looks on.

Oxford Fire Captain Ken Sellers congratulates Oxford Firefighter Nick Donahue.