LYNNFIELD — The town has added three new call firefighters to its ranks.
John Grossi, Andrew Moccia, and Cole Sheridan were among 21 recent graduates of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA), bringing the total number of Lynnfield call firefighters to 23.
In addition, the department has nine full-time firefighters.
The department wasted no time in putting the recruits to work on their first day on the job. They worked with the day crew under Lynnfield Fire Capt. Kevin Mutti to learn the specifics of the department’s fire apparatus, training on hose deployment and several other tasks.
Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier, who is the acting director of the MFA, said new firefighters are needed “now more than ever.”
“First responders are on the front lines of any crisis,” Fournier said. “The rigorous training they’ve completed provides them with the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to protect their communities safely and effectively.”
Firefighter Jeffrey Fiorentino said the Call/Volunteer Firefighter Recruit Training Program is unique in that it delivers a standard recruit training curriculum meeting national standards, on nights and weekends to accommodate the schedule of firefighters in suburban and rural areas. Bringing the training closer to firefighters means more can participate and allows them more time to practice training skills with instructors, he said.
“They all are doing this in addition to their regular jobs,” said Fiorentino. “It’s quite a commitment. We are always looking for additional staff to join ranks. Everybody’s reasons for wanting to become a call firefighter are different. For some, it’s a career path to becoming a full-time firefighter; for others it’s something they want to do as a second job. A lot of people just want to give back to the communities they live in.”
Fiorentino said the number of hours call firefighters work also varies, with some working as many as 30 to 40 hours a week and some working less than 10. Call firefighters in Lynnfield respond from home when alerted, and then report to the station. Call firefighters also have the opportunity to sign up to work shifts as well to fill scheduling gaps, due to the fact that Lynnfield doesn’t have a “full complement of full and call firefighters on its staff,” he said.
Among the topics covered at MFA are the latest science of fire behavior and suppression tactics from certified fire instructors. They receive training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, and self-rescue techniques. The intensive program involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training, and live firefighting practice.
To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack. Fire-attack operations range from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multiple-room structural fires.
The MFA, a division of the Department of Fire Services, has offered the program since 2003. To date, nearly 3,000 call and volunteer recruits have graduated. Lynnfield’s new recruits were among 21 firefighters from 13 different communities who successfully completed the program. The other communities include Boxford, Georgetown, Hamilton, Lincoln, Middleton, Nahant, Newburyport, Rockport, Rowley, Topsfield, Wenham, and West Newbury.
Upon successful completion of the program, firefighters have the ability to become certified to the level of Firefighter 1 and 2 and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations Level by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council, which is accredited by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications.