The Monmouth County Fire Academy recently graduated 39 firefighters from the Firefighter I program. The first-time firefighter graduates were divided into two classes: Class 108 graduated on Jan. 26 and Class 109 graduated on Jan. 27, according to a press release from Monmouth County.
All of the graduating firefighters worked 188 hours over 30 sessions and received training in rescue, fire extinguishment, hazardous materials response, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, electrical safety, and care of hoses, ladders and other equipment.
A graduate from each class earned the Ronald Fitzpatrick Award, named for a former instructor at the Monmouth County Fire Academy who died in the line of duty in 2003. The awards went to Devon S. Clancy, Class 108, of the Sea Girt Fire Department, and to Michael S. Giacona, Class 109, of the Gordons Corner Fire Company, Manalapan. For their respective graduating classes, Clancy and Giacone received the highest test scores and attendance records, according to the press release.
Monmouth County Fire Marshal Kevin A. Stout said, “I am so proud of this next generation of firefighters … I am confident that each firefighter will go on to serve their community well, having completed the best training available from very qualified instructors.”
Local graduates from Class 108 are Vincent A. Cucurillo, Millstone Township Fire Company; Vincent J. Curreri, Englishtown Fire Department; Stephen T. Haines, Manalapan Township Fire Company No. 1; Rut P. Lineswala, Freehold Fire Department; and Brandon M. Ohmer, Englishtown Fire Department.
Local graduates from Class 109 are Michael S. Giacona, Gordons Corner Fire Company; Erin L. Hubscher, Hope Fire Company; Connor R. McGowan, Ramtown Fire Company; Keith L. Otten, Colts Neck Fire Department; David M. Petrillo, East Freehold Fire Company; Mathijs M. Smit, Adelphia Fire Company; and Thomas J. Viviano, Hope Fire Company.