There was no shortage of friends, family, and fire service personnel when Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Class #102 graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, but there was a little bit of law enforcement, too – the newly elected Essex County District Attorney, Paul F. Tucker, was in attendance.
The 33 members of Class #102 graduated on March 1 at Lynnfield High School after hundreds of hours of classroom instruction and in-person training on nights and weekends. They represented the fire departments of Boxford, Dunstable, Hamilton, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Merrimac, Middleton, Newburyport, Rockport, Rowley, Topsfield, Wenham, and West Newbury – all but one of which lie within Essex County.
Ipswich Graduate is an Essex County Prosecutor
In addition to recognizing all the graduating firefighters from his jurisdiction, DA Tucker was also on hand to support one in particular – Ipswich Firefighter Michael Varone, who serves as an assistant district attorney in his office. Later, the DA recounted how impressed he was at the graduating class and their brothers/sisters call and volunteer firefighters from across Massachusetts who answer the call when their communities need them.
“They do this above and beyond their full-time jobs and commitments and will be ready to go at a moment’s notice,” DA Tucker said. “I wish them all safety as they engage in a vital form of public service.”
March was a banner month for the Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Program. One night after Class #102 graduated in Lynnfield, Class #103 graduated in Stow, with 23 recruits from the fire departments of Belchertown, Dudley, East Brookfield, Grafton, Hopedale, Leicester, Millville, Northbridge, Phillipston, Southbridge, Sturbridge, Upton, West Boylston, and Winchendon.
“Our call and volunteer firefighters make an immense contribution to their communities and the Commonwealth every single day,” said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. “These graduates have embraced a proud tradition of service, steeped in history, and ready to confront 21st century challenges.”
