Three Berwyn Volunteers Complete Summer Fire Course

Three Berwyn Fire Company volunteers are among 38 firefighters to become the first graduates of the Montgomery County Fire Academy (MCFA) new Summer Essentials program.

Evan Brazunas, David Rahr, and Andrew Spina completed the Pensylvania Entry Level Fire Fighter training course. They were awarded certificates during graduation ceremonies Tuesday night at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus. 

They are among new firefighters from 26 fire companies in Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties. 

The Summer Essentials program is a five week training course offered in conjunction with Montgomery County Community College. The accelerated program allows college students to train as firefighters during their summer break.

Michael Weider, the commencement speaker, began his fire service career in 1979 as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown of Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. Weider is now Associate Director of Oklahoma State University’s Fire Protection Publications and the Executive Director of the International Fire Service Training Association.

Montgomery County Fire Academy Director Thomas Garrity told the graduates to be professional and keep their priorities straight. Family, career, and firefighting is the order of priorities he recommended to the volunteers.