Firefighters Graduate From Montco Fire Academy

Thirty-eight volunteer firefighters became the first graduates of the Montgomery County Fire Academy (MCFA) new Summer Essentials program during a ceremony Tuesday, July 26.

The new firefighters were from 26 fire companies from Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties. Among the fire companies with graduates were Lima, King of Prussia, Conshohocken, Bryn Mawr, Berwyn, Bridgeport, Valley Forge, Norriton, Phoenixville and others.

The Summer Essentials program is a five-week training course that earns the graduate a Pennsylvania Entry Level Firefighter Certificate.

The program, offered in conjunction with Montgomery County Community College, allows college students to train as firefighters during summer break. The graduation took place at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus in Conshohocken.

Michael Weider, the commencement speaker, began his fire service career in 1979 as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown of Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. Weider is now associate director of Oklahoma State University’s Fire Protection Publications and the executive director of the International Fire Service Training Association.

Also speaking was Thomas Garrity, the director of MCFA. His advice to the newly qualified volunteers was to be professional and keep priorities straight. Family, career and firefighting is the order of priorities he recommended.