Fire Chief Christopher Maguy is pleased to announce that three Dighton firefighters graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy’s Call/Volunteer training program yesterday.
On Wednesday, Nov. 4, Firefighter/Paramedic Sarah Guilmette, Firefighter/EMT-B Christopher Raposo and Firefighter Christopher Sgro graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighting Training Class 87. Graduates were recognized in a ceremony at the Fall River Fire headquarters last night.
“On behalf of the entire department, I would like to congratulate Firefighters Guilmette, Raposo and Sgro on the completion of their training,” Chief Maguy said. “During the comprehensive training program, they learned skills that will be invaluable to them as they serve the Dighton community.”
Firefighter/Paramedic Guilmette was appointed on May 13, 2018, Firefighter/EMT-B Raposo was appointed on May 19, 2019 and Firefighter Sgro was appointed on Aug. 1, 2019.
During the 16-week training, firefighters learned the basic skills they need to respond to fires, including how to contain and control fires, public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquid control, stress management, firefighter self-rescue and vehicle extrication.
In order to graduate, firefighters completed 240 hours of training, all on nights and weekends, while demonstrating proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack in situations ranging from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multi-room structure fires.
The other 30 graduates represented the fire departments of Avon, Berkley, Dartmouth-District 1, Dartmouth-District 3, Freetown, Halifax, Lakeville, Marion, Mattapoisett, Plympton, Raynham, Wareham and Westport.
The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy:
At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, firefighter recruits learn a wide range of skills in an intensive four month program. Certified and more experienced firefighters lead classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training and firefighting practice. Students are given training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques and rappelling. Upon successful completion of the Recruit Program, all students have met national standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001.
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