GEORGETOWN — Three Georgetown firefighters recently graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Call/ Volunteer training program.
Firefighters Celia Xie, along with Connor and Chad Cameron, who are brothers, are among 21 graduates from the MFA’s Call/Volunteer Training Class 95, which officially graduated from the training program recently. Graduates received certificates of completion at a ceremony held at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School.
Firefighter Xie, the class spokesperson, gave an inspiring speech at the ceremony, thanking all who helped throughout the process and congratulating her fellow graduates on completing this important step in their fire service career.
During the 16-week training program participants learn the basic skills needed to respond to emergencies, including lessons on fire behavior and suppression, public fire education, flammable liquids, hazardous material incident mitigation, stress management and self-rescue techniques.
The program involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training, and live firefighting practice.
Graduates of the program complete 240 hours of training on nights and weekends. To graduate students must demonstrate proficiency in live safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack. Upon completion of this training, recruits have met the standard of National Fire Protection Association 1001.
“Congratulations to the three newest members of the Georgetown Fire Department for completing this intensive training,” Acting Chief Chuck Savage said. “I am excited to watch each of them grow into their firefighting careers, while using the skills they learned throughout this course to keep our community safe.”
Other graduates of Class 95 represent the fire departments of Boxford, Hamilton, Lincoln, Lynnfield, Middleton, Nahant, Newburyport, Rockport, Rowley, Topsfield, Wenham, and West Newbury.
