New Sudbury Firefighters Honored At Academy Graduation

SUDBURY, MA — The town's newest firefighters have officially graduated from the state's fire academy.

The Sudbury Fire Department welcomed firefighters Anna Bakita and Curry Whalen following their graduation from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. The two recruits were among the dozens of local firefighters to graduate on Friday, Mar. 20.

Bakita and Whalen were part of the Career Recruit Class #337, a group of firefighter recruits representing fire departments across the state. Their graduation was held in Stow.

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Multiple state leaders in fire services spoke at the event on Friday, including Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier.

The 10-week program teaches recruits basic firefighter skills. They begin by practicing under non-fire conditions, and then during controlled fire situations. To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack.

The Sudbury Fire Department said that Bakita will be assigned to Group 1, while Curry will be assigned to Group 2.

"We wish both of them well on their new careers in what is considered the best job in the world," Sudbury Fire wrote in a news release. "Have a healthy and safe career."

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