WESTFIELD—One firefighter from Westfield graduated from the Massachusetts career firefighting program in Springfield last week.
Matthew B. Potter graduated with 20 other firefighters from the 50-day program on Wednesday, June 21. The class was just the fourth to graduate from the program, which is hosted at the Department of Fire Services’ Springfield campus.
Class photo of the graduating class, with Matthew B. Potter at center holding the axe
“This rigorous professional training provides our newest fire-fighters with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely,” State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey was reported as saying in a press release.
The 21 graduates included two women and 19 men and represented the following departments: Chicopee, Easthampton, Greenfield, Ludlow, Northampton, Springfield, West Springfield and Westfield.
According to the press release, students received “classroom training in all basic firefighter skills. They practice first under non-fire conditions and then during controlled fire conditions. To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack.”
