Peabody Firefighters Graduate From Training Program

PEABODY, MA - Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr. and Fire Chief Steven E. Pasdon are pleased to announce that Firefighters John Brophy III, Todd Croce and Joseph Javery, the Class Spokesperson, graduated from the 238th class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s forty-five-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program on January 15.

“This rigorous professional training provides our newest firefighters with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely,” said State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan.

“I congratulate firefighters Brophy, Croce and Javery for graduating from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy,” said Mayor Bettencourt. “Peabody residents can rest assured knowing these three newest members of the Peabody Fire Department have received the very best fire and life safety training utilizing the same cutting edge technology which is available to them in Peabody.”

24 Graduates from 12 Fire Departments

The 24 graduates, all men, represent the 12 fire departments of: Auburn, Bedford, Bridgewater, Fairhaven, Maynard, Peabody, Revere, Scituate, Somerville, Tewksbury, Walpole, and Watertown.

Peabody Firefighter Recipient of the Outstanding Student Award

Peabody Firefighter John Brophy III was competitively selected by the course instructors as the recipient of the Richard N. Bangs Award given to the outstanding student of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Recruit Class # 238. This achievement is based upon his achievements on both academic exams and practical skills

Today’s Firefighters Do Far More than Fight Fires

Today’s firefighters do far more than fight fires. They are the first ones called to respond to chemical and environmental emergencies, ranging from the suspected presence of carbon monoxide to a gas leak. They may be called to rescue a child who has fallen through the ice or who has locked himself in a bathroom.

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 (SCBA), 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, nine-week program for municipal firefighters involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training, and live firefighting practice.

Basic Firefighter Skills

Students receive classroom training in all basic firefighter skills. They practice first 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 Recruit Program all students have met national standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001 and are certified to the level of Firefighter I and II, and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operational Level by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council, which is accredited by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications.