Familiar R-FH Area Names in Fire Academy News

Among the 59 Monmouth County Fire Academy Firefighter I program graduates, two are from Fair Haven and two from Sea Bright.

Graduates were divided into two classes: Class 96 graduated Jan. 22 and Class 97 graduated Jan. 23. Both ceremonies were held at the county Fire Academy on Route 33, Howell.

Graduates worked 188 hours over 30 sessions and received training in rescue, fire extinguishment, hazardous materials response, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, electrical safety, and care of hoses, ladders and other equipment. 

Freeholder John P. Curley told both classes of graduates that they would always remember their initial firefighter training and how Superstorm Sandy jump started their service to their communities.

“This type of an emergency was truly indoctrination by fire,” Curley said. “All of these trainees were with their local fire companies providing community rescue assistance or mutual aid to their neighbors. Some assisted with evacuations as Sandy approached our coastline; some stood watch at a downed power line; while other performed rescue operations as the water rose and citizens needed help.”

Monmouth County Fire Marshal Henry Stryker III congratulated the graduates and urged them to continue their training with advanced courses offered at the Fire Academy.

“Over the years I have learned that it takes a special type of person to be a firefighter,” Stryker said. “They have to have a passion to do this job. The graduates sitting before us have that passion because they have completed the rigorous training as their first step. Please be safe.”

Each year thousands of local firefighters receive training at the county Fire Academy. Applications for the spring 2013 Firefighter I class are being accepted now. Classes will begin in February.

The graduates from the R-FH area ...

Firefighter I — Class 96: Eric DiReda, Fair Haven; Kevin Jobes, Sea Bright; Patrick Jobes, Sea Bright.

Firefighter I — Class 97: Robert Achimov, Fair Haven.

The remainder of graduates from all over the county:

Firefighter 1 — Class 96:

Christian Annunziata                 Holmdel Fire Rescue Co. #2
Michael Bardsley                 Ramtown
Justin Boucher                 Squankum Fire Co.
Derek DeLuca                 Robertsville
Eric DiReda                     Fair Haven
Jason Fazzaro                     Cranbury Township
Franklin Gaskin III                 Unexcelled Fire Co.
Samuel Gomez, Jr.                 East Windsor Volunteer Co. #2
Peter Gray                     Elberon Engine
Thomas Haberstick                 Bradley Beach
Alexander Handel                 Gordon’s Corner
Daniel Huyler                     Eatontown
Matt Jachyra                     Middletown Fire Dept.
Bradford Jennings                 Shrewsbury Hose Co.
Kevin Jobes                     Sea Bright
Patrick Jobes                     Sea Bright
Jason Kole                     Gordon’s Corner
Alexander Kubiak                 Adelphia
Sean Lampf                     West Long Branch #1
Matthew Leitch                 New Point Comfort #1
Joanne Letson                     Bradley Beach
David Lovey                     Southard
Stephen Madden                 Holmdel Fire Rescue Co. #2
Sean Malone                     Point Pleasant Beach
Michael Stewart                 Monroe Township Volunteer #
Christopher Talocka                 West Long Branch #1
Christopher Tappan                 West Long Branch #1
James Taylor                     Cranbury Township
Trisha Timony                 Millstone Township
Steve Turner                     Holmdel Fire Rescue Co. #2

Firefighter 1 — Class 97:

Robert Achimov                 Fair Haven
Daniel Andrus                 Adelphia
Kristian Aspiolea                 Freehold Independent
Michael Biyad                 Holmdel #1
Matthew Coleman                 Spring Lake Heights
Joseph Corson, Jr.                 Wayside
John DePinto                     Adelphia
Frank Ferrara                     Adelphia
David Glenny                     Robertsville
Ryder Grimes                     Ramtown
Edward Karecki, III                 Laurence Harbor
Andrew Kennedy                 Englishtown
John Kupsch                     Eatontown
Conor Lennon                 Englishtown
Travis Lowande                 Jamesburg
Matt Manzella                 Freehold Independent
Todd Migdon                     Bradley Beach
Salvatore Nesta, IV         Hazlet No. 1
Matthew O’Brien             Englishtown
Michael Parkes               Pioneer Hose
Raymond Peterson         Shrewsbury Hose
Timothy Rehm               Wayside
Chris Reid                     Jamesburg
Andrew Santos              Bradley Beach
Louis Sarti                     Englishtown
Michael Schubert            Freewood Acres
Justin Scullion                Squankum
Kirk Smith                     Wayside
Robert Smith, III            Morganville Independent