Peabody Firefighters Among Latest MA Academy Graduating Class

PEABODY, MA — Four Peabody firefighters were among the graduating class from the latest Massachusetts Firefighting Academy training program last week.

"Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever," said State Fire Marshal Jon Davine. "The hundreds of hours of foundational training they've received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely."

The graduating firefighters of Class #316 represent the fire departments of Amesbury, Bedford, Boxborough, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Middleborough, Nantucket, North Reading, Northborough, Norwell, Peabody, Revere, Sharon, Stoneham, Sudbury, and Winthrop.

The four Peabody graduates were Evan Braz, Ryan Fanning, Steven Leavitt and Frank Melito.

"Massachusetts Firefighting Academy instructors draw on decades of experience in the fire service to train new recruits," said Director Jeffrey Winn. "Through consistent classroom instruction and practical exercises, today's graduates have developed the tools they'll need to work seamlessly with veteran firefighters in their home departments and in neighboring communities as mutual aid.”

Students receive classroom training in all basic firefighter skills under non-fire conditions and then during controlled fire conditions. To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack.

Fire attack operations range from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multiple-room structural fires. Upon successful completion of the Career Recruit Program, all students have met the national standards of NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, and are certified to the levels of Firefighter I/II and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)