New firefighters see blazing success at academy

Several new firefighters from the Onset Fire Department and Wareham Fire Department graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Program.

The graduates were part of Call/Volunteer Recruit Class No. 125, which completed training at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy and graduated during a ceremony at Bridgewater State University.

State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine said the program helps prepare firefighters for the increasing demands of emergency response work.

“Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and these graduates are needed now more than ever,” Davine said.

Of the 40 who graduated, 14 hail from the gateway town. Seven new firefighters will join the team at both Wareham and Onset fire stations.

Chief of the Onset Fire Department Raymond Osswald said the new firefighters will soon begin working duty shifts after completing onboarding and department familiarization.

“We are very fortunate that the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy offers the Call/Volunteer Firefighter Recruit Training Program,” Osswald said. “These firefighters have successfully completed over 240 hours of academy training, earned all required certifications, and completed our in-house First Responder training program. As a result, they are well-prepared to provide professional, high-quality emergency services to the residents and visitors of our community.”

The academy’s call and volunteer training program is designed to accommodate firefighters in suburban and rural departments by holding classes on nights and weekends. Recruits complete 240 hours of classroom instruction, physical training, live fire exercises and emergency response education.

Since the program began in 2003, more than 3,000 call and volunteer firefighters have graduated from the academy.