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Merrimac Firefighter Graduates from Massachusetts Firefighting Academy

On June 29, Firefighter William Howard graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. Also pictured, Firefighter Howard’s daughters, Abigail (left) and Sabrina (right). (Photo courtesy of the Merrimac Fire Department)

MERRIMAC — Chief Larry Fisher is pleased to announce that Firefighter William Howard graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s (MFA) Call/Volunteer training program last month.

Firefighter Howard was among 40 graduates from the MFA’s Call/Volunteer Firefighter Training Class 91, which officially completed the Firefighter I/II program on Tuesday, June 29. 

During the 16 week training, firefighters learned the basic skills they need to respond to fires, including how to contain and control them, public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, 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 structural fires.

“I would like to congratulate Firefighter Howard for his hard work and dedication in completing this rigorous training program and truly beginning his career as a member of our department,” Chief Fisher. “I am confident that the training and skills that he learned will serve him well in the future.”

The other graduates represent the fire departments of Ayer, Boxborough, Boylston, Carlisle, Dunstable, Groton, Groveland, Hopedale, Leicester, Lincoln, Lunenburg, Millville, Plympton, Shirley, Stow, Sutton, Templeton, Topsfield, Tyngsborough, West Brookfield and West Newbury.

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