Arlington Gets 3 New Firefighters

ARLINGTON, MA — Arlington got three new firefighters this week. Alexander D. Caterino, Michael J. Curran, and Robert S. Marshall all just graduated from the state academy and will be serving in town - not just fighting fires, but they are trained to respond to chemical and environmental emergencies among much more.

“This rigorous professional training provides our newest firefighters with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely,” said State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey in a statement. The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, a division of the Department of Fire Services, offers this program tuition-free. The ceremony took place at the Department of Fire Services in Stow, MA.

Members of the Career Recruit Firefighter Class # 257 graduated on Friday, Sept. 29, in a ceremony at the Department of Fire Services, One State Road, Stow.

Of the class, 33 graduated including three women representing the 20 fire departments. Everett Fire Lieutenant Gary Ostler, a member of the federal Urban Search and Rescue Team that responded to Houston after Hurricane Harvey spoke to the new firefighters at their graduation and wished them well.

They rescue people from stalled elevators and those who are trapped in vehicle crashes. They test and maintain their equipment including self-contained breathing apparatus, hydrants, hoses, power tools, and apparatus.

At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy they learn all these skills and more from certified fire instructors who are also experienced firefighters. Students learn all the basic skills they need to respond to fires and to contain and control them. They are also given training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques, and rappelling. The intensive, 10 week program for municipal firefighters involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training, and live firefighting practice.

Photo courtesy MA Fire