Burlington Fire Department Welcomes New Firefighter

Burlington Fire Chief Steve Yetman is pleased to announce that Firefighter Tyler Falconer completed the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy last week.

Falconer is one of 23 graduates from the 231st class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s 45-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program. A ceremony was held at the Department of Fire Services in Stow at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 28, according to authorities.

The 22-year-old Burlington resident is a Navy veteran and Emergency Medical Technician.

“With his enthusiasm and experience, I know Firefighter Falconer will be an asset to the Burlington Fire Department,” Chief Yetman said in a statement. “I applaud him for completing the academy and know the additional skills he’s acquired will serve our community well.”

The intensive, nine-week state firefighting academy for municipal firefighters involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, skills training and live firefighting practice.

Firefighters learned the basic skills they need to respond to fires including how to contain and control them, public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques and rappelling.

To graduate, firefighters were required to demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack (ranging from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multi-room structural fires).

“This rigorous professional training provides our newest firefighters with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely,” said Deputy State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey in a statement.

The remaining 23 graduates, all men, represent 14 fire departments in state: Ashland, Bedford, Devens, Easthampton, Lakeville, Melrose, Middleborough, North Attleboro, Northampton, Plainville, Westborough, Westfield, Weymouth and Woburn.