Firefighters Barlow and Powers Graduate From Training Program

Firefighters Powers and Barlow

The City of Newburyport is happy to announce that Jacob Barlow (left) and Timothy Powers (right) were among 33 recruits to graduate on Wednesday, March 1st from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Program. The graduates received certificates of completion at a ceremony held at Lynnfield Middle School.

Video of the ceremony is posted at the Department of Fire Services' YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/dfsosfm.

The Call/Volunteer Firefighter Recruit Training Program is unique in that it delivers a standard recruit training curriculum, meeting national standards, on nights and weekends to accommodate the schedule of firefighters in suburban and rural areas. Making the training more accessible means more firefighters can participate and allows them more time to practice training skills with instructors.

The MFA, a division of the Department of Fire Services, has offered the program since 2003. About 3,000 call and volunteer recruits have graduated since then.

Today's firefighters train for all types of hazards and emergencies. They are the first ones called to chemical and environmental emergencies, ranging from the suspected presence of carbon monoxide to Fentanyl overdoses or a gas leak. They may be called to rescue children who have fallen through the ice or locked themselves in a bathroom. They rescue people from stalled elevators and crashed vehicles. They must test, maintain, and utilize equipment such as self­contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), hydrants, hoses, power tools, and apparatus.

At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, they learn skills including rescue, maintaining and utilizing equipment, and dealing with chemical and environmental emergencies. They also learn the latest science of fire behavior and suppression tactics and receive training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, and self-rescue techniques. The intensive program involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training, and live firefighting practice.

Graduates have completed 240 hours of training on nights and weekends. Upon successful completion of this program, all students have met the standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001. In addition, they have the ability to become certified to the level of Firefighter I and II and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations Level by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council, which is accredited by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications.

Congratulations to Firefighters Barlow and Powers!