Fire Chief Wiley Announces New Winthrop Firefighter Graduates

Special to the Transcript

Chief Scott Wiley is pleased to announce that three Winthrop firefighters graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA) on Dec. 8.

Firefighters Matthew Amabello, Jarret Herdt and Aileen Kane were among the 30 graduates from 17 fire departments to graduate from the Academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class #316. The graduates completed the 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program at the Stow campus.

The graduation ceremony was attended by Chief Wiley, other members of the department and the recruits’ families and friends.

“On behalf of the entire department, I would like to recognize Firefighters Matthew Amabello, Jarret Herdt and Aileen Kane on their graduation from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Career Recruit Program,” said Chief Wiley. “These graduates are now well-prepared to serve the Winthrop community and we look forward to welcoming them to the department.”

The program teaches the essentials of fire and non-fire conditions, life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack. The graduates are now certified at the level of Firefighter I and II and in hazardous material operation.

“Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever,” said State Fire Marshal Davine. “The hundreds of hours of foundational training they’ve received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.”

The other 27 graduates represent the fire departments of #316 represent the fire departments of Amesbury, Bedford, Boxborough, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Middleborough, Nantucket, North Reading, Northborough, Norwell, Peabody, Revere, Sharon, Stoneham, and Sudbury.

At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, firefighter recruits learn a wide range of skills in an intensive 10-week 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.