Area volunteers to graduate from firefighters’ course

By Ryan Hutton
Posted: 07/24/2009 02:20:38 AM EDT


North Adams Transcript

CHESHIRE -- In a little over a week, the county will see close to two dozen volunteer firefighters become nationally certified as they graduate from the Firefighter I/II course.

Funded by part of the $666,000 federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant received by Cheshire three years ago, the course trains firefighters to be able to work on a professional level anywhere. In all, 23 volunteer firefighters from Cheshire, Adams, Savoy, Lenox, Lee and Richmond will graduate from the 186-hour course on Aug. 1 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Pittsfield.

According to SAFER grant administrator James Pasquini, the course took 11 months to complete by holding courses one weekend a month and one week night a month.

"I think this graduation shows that the program has been very successful," Pasquini said. "Before, we had one Cheshire firefighter certified, now we have nine. Plus we’ve added 23 better trained volunteer firefighters to the county. Savoy didn’t have any before, and I think this shows very high success."

State Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, will be at the graduation ceremony and Congressman John Olver has said he will try to be there as well. The Department of Homeland Security, which funds the SAFER grant, will be sending SAFER program specialist Victor Esch to speak to the graduates.

"Hopefully, this will get us the recognition we need and will help us get additional


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funding for future programs throughout the county." Pasquini said.
Pasquini said the local firefighters also participated in six additional two-day training session on subjects like vehicle extrication and ropes courses.

"We really turned that grant around," Pasquini said. "It was originally just for recruitment, but what good is getting additional firefighters if they aren’t well trained? That’s like going to fight a fire without water."

Cheshire firefighters graduating from the Firefighter I/II program include Timothy Audet, Michael Biagini Jr., Chief Tom Framcesconi, Shawn Martin, Kim Martin, Jason Mendonca, Corey Swistak and Trevor Swistak.

From the Alert Hose Company in Adams Jason Godfrey and Mark Therrien Jr. will graduate, and graduating Savoy firefighters include Steven Greenleaf, Peter Miner, Chief Lawrence Ordyna, Scott Sefcik and Jeffrey Ziter.

To reach Ryan Hutton, e-mail rhutton@thetranscript.com.