Monmouth County Fire Academy Graduates 66

For the past 40 years, the Monmouth County Fire Academy has been training firefighters to protect all of Monmouth County. On Dec. 19, 31 members of the 92nd firefighter class were recognized in front of a packed room of family and friends for their training accomplishment. 

"The program consisted of 180 hours of training which took place over 14 Saturdays or Sundays and 15 night classes with a homework test provided each night," said Chief William Itinger. "They had off for holidays but worked through the rain and even snow this year.”

During those 180 hours, each firefighter was trained in search and rescue, ladders, hose operations, fire ground safety, property conservation, disability training, basic forest fire and other areas. 

Each also had to complete a 100-question test from Kean University. Only after passing the test and completing all classroom sessions and all hands on exercises was each undergraduate officially considered certified firefighter. 

Four classes a year receive their certification to become official firefighters for Monmouth County. With about 35 people in a class, the Monmouth County Fire Academy graduates 140 firefighters a year. On Dec. 20 , 35 more Monmouth County Fire Academy undergrads will be recognized and will be handed their certification to become official firefighters for Monmouth County. 

Monday night's graduates included:

Arvel Afflick from East Windsor #2

Kyle Bauter from Glendola, Wall Township

Ryan Boyle from Wanamassa Fire Company

Brett Brahn from Spring Lake Fire Department

Francis Calabrese from Red Bank Fire Department

Eric Cantwell from Ridgeway Fire Company

Matthew Chester from Ridgeway Fire Company

Travis Ciani from

Kevin Covert from Sea Bright Fire Department

Zachery Covert from Sea Bright Fire Department

Michael Crismali from East Windsor #2

Christopher D'Eufemia from Spring Lake Fire Department

Jeffery Daley from Oakhurst Fire Company

Jason Downing from Spring Lake Fire Department

Sean Edson from Oakhurst Fire Company

Benjamin Espada from Aberdeen Hose and Chemical #1

Jason Henry from Allenhurst Fire Department

Thomas Kacsmar from Glendola Fire Company

Joshua Kolodziej from Holmdel Fire Rescue #2

John Kuhlthau from Monmouth Beach Fire Company

Mark Mancino from Holmdel Fire Rescue #2

Scott Mason from Spring Lake Fire Department

Thomas Mayrose from Ridgeway Fire Company

Thomas Moran from East Freehold Fire Company

Andrew Murray Jr. from Keansburge Fire Company#1

Chanin Robilotti from Englishtown

Eric Sacks from Manalapan Township #1

Henry Sieminski from Spring Lake Fire Department

Jake Simon from Sea Bright Fire Department

Michael Whittet from Gordon's Corner Fire Company

Ryan Woolf-Sanchez from Holmdel Fire Rescue #2