4 from Medina FD among graduates of 15-week program at state fire academy

MEDINA – Four Medina firefighters were among the 36 graduates of a 15-week fire training program at the fire academy in Montour Falls.

Andrew Cheverie, Nicolas Lee, Bailey Schubmehl and Andrew Steel of the Medina Fire Department graduated on Friday in a class of 36 from the State’s Recruit Firefighter Training program. The graduates come from 13 fire departments across the state.

Dalton Major of Clarendon also completed the program for the City of Batavia Fire Department.

The residential program provides extensive fire service training in an environment similar to a full-time fire department. Upon graduation, all the recruits will become career firefighters when they return home to their career departments.

“I am incredibly proud of these graduates’ achievements. They are well-prepared to protect New Yorkers from fires and the emergencies they will respond to during their careers,” said Jackie Bray, commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. “They now embark on a path of public service to keep their communities safe. On behalf of my colleagues from the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, we look forward to supporting New York’s newest firefighters as they carry out their future missions.”

The Office of Fire Prevention and Control’s Recruit Firefighter Training Program provides basic training for recently hired career firefighters, as well as volunteer firefighters. During the 15-week program, recruits participate in more than 600 hours of training in both classroom and practical settings.

Classes focus on areas such as structural, vehicle and flammable liquid firefighting, emergency vehicle operations, hazardous material emergency incident and basic rescue technician operations. Recruits also participate in daily physical fitness training in preparation for the Candidate Physical Ability Test.

Upon completion, graduates will have received national certification from the National Board of Fire Service Professional Qualifications in Firefighter I, Firefighter II and Hazardous Materials Operations.

This is the first class to graduate from the extended training program, which previously ran 11-weeks. Today’s graduates received expanded training in areas such as operating aerial devices; traffic incident management to keep firefighters safe on roadways; health and safety; firefighter rescue; hazardous materials response, and technical rescue.

To support the new curriculum, iPads were issued to students to provide them with greater access and flexibility to testing, as well as study materials available through the use of technology.