GLOUCESTER — Fire Chief Eric Smith and Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken are pleased to announce that firefighter David Barrett graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy this afternoon.
Firefighter Barrett is one of 29 firefighters who completed the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program. A ceremony was held at the Department of Fire Services in Stow on Monday, Aug. 22 at 1 p.m.
A New England Institute of Technology graduate, Firefighter Barrett grew up in Essex, Mass. and is the nephew of the late retired Gloucester firefighter Arthur Dorothy. He has been a member of the Gloucester Fire Department since April and is also trained as an EMT/paramedic.
“Firefighter Barrett has strong leadership skills and is a dedicated firefighter to his department,” Chief Smith said. “We are proud of him for completing his training at the academy and believe he will be a vital asset to the Gloucester community. I expect great things from him throughout his career.”
The intensive 10-week state firefighting academy for municipal firefighters involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, skills training and live firefighting practice. Previously, the program was nine weeks, but beginning with this class of recruits, another week was added to allow for additional time focused on water rescue, power saws, live fire training and Firefighter I/II practical skills.
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.
“Congratulations to Firefighter Barrett for completing this intensive program,” Mayor Romeo Theken said. “I know he will serve our fire department well and be an asset to the community.”
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 State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey.
The remaining graduates represent the 15 fire departments of Amesbury, Arlington, Chicopee, Fairhaven, Gardner, Haverhill, Lexington, Littleton, Lynnfield, Orange, Seekonk, Sudbury, Walpole, Watertown and Yarmouth.
