Acton Firefighter Graduates From MA Firefighting Academy

ACTON, MA — Acton Firefighter/Paramedic Patrick Douglass graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy on Friday.

Douglass was among the 10 firefighters who graduated from the MFA’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Class S19. Graduates were recognized at a ceremony at the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services headquarters in Stow.

"I am certain that he will be a valuable asset to the department and I am looking forward to his return from training," Fire Chief Robert Hart said.

Douglass joined the Acton Fire Department in May 2020. Upon his return to the department, Firefighter/Paramedic Douglass will be assigned to group two.

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 another week has been 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.

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).

The remaining recruits represent the 8 other fire departments, including: Agawam, Amesbury, Holden, Ludlow, Pittsfield, Westfield and West Springfield.