Checking In With First Responders In Training

Add the names of Damien Speranza and Richard Beardslee to the ranks of the more than 4,200 career firefighters in Connecticut. In just a few short weeks, the two men will have completed their 14-week intensive firefighting training at the state fire academy and join the Poquonnock Bridge Fire Department and call the Fort Hill Road firehouse their ‘house.’

And for Speranza, unlike Beardslee who’s been a longtime volunteer firefighter, the training experience has been at once a new and exciting experience but also “tough” and extreme. 

“It's an intense process but since I had no fire experience it's really good for me,” he said. “Training is tough but we’re learning a lot.” 

Speranza does have experience as a first responder though; he’s been an EMT for several years.

A Quinnipiac University graduate holding a degree in criminal justice, Speranza, 28, originally from New Jersey has been a bounty hunter among other jobs.

Beardslee, 36, a married father of two, has been a volunteer firefighter since he was a teenager; a longtime first responder who has volunteered for a number of fire departments including North Stonington, Old Mystic, Mystic Hook and Ladder, Griswold and Preston. And, he’s pursuing a degree in fire science at Three Rivers Community College.   

Speranza said he and Beardslee recently completed hazardous materials training and following, both “passed” the certifications’ test. He also said the two have been doing extreme firefighting exercises including the seemingly impossible task of putting out a propane fire. 

The pair essentially lives at the academy during the week and on weekends they are required to report to the Poquonnock Bridge firehouse where they are expected to “prepare for our future career.” 

“If there is a first or second alarm fire we are allowed to assist,” he explained. Though Speranza said he missed a first alarm fire opportunity when he traveled to be with his dying grandmother in New Jersey. 

“I'm most looking forward to working with my actual shift of guys,” he said. He’ll be on A shift.

“At the academy we are trained to do things a certain way but when we get back to our individual departments we will have to learn their way. So I'm excited to learn from the guys at Poquonnock Bridge and learn how they do things,” he said. “I just want to get to work.”