State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Announces 36 New Graduates of Recruit Firefighter Training Program

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray today announced the graduation of 36 new firefighters from the State’s Recruit Firefighter Training program at the Office of Fire Prevention and Control’s Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls. Graduates come from 13 fire departments across the state, representing the Academy's 85th Recruit Firefighter Training class. The rigorous 15-week 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,” Commissioner Bray said. “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.

New York State Fire Administrator James B. Cable said, “Congratulations to today’s graduates, who represent the first Recruit Training class to receive expanded instruction through the Academy’s new curriculum. In 2019, our Academy began updating its recruit curriculum to reflect emerging challenges firefighters face in today’s fire service, and our graduates will certainly benefit from this expanded training. We continue to receive an overwhelming number of inquiries to train new recruits and we look forward to continuing to provide this new curriculum to our upcoming class in August.”

The following firefighters graduated today from the 85^th Recruit Firefighter Training Program:

The next Recruit Firefighter Training Program at the Academy begins on August 1st.

About the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control

The Office of Fire Prevention and Control delivers a wide breadth of services to firefighters, emergency responders, state and local government agencies, public and private colleges, and the citizens of New York. The office advances public safety through firefighter training, education, fire prevention, investigative, special operations and technical rescue programs. The delivery of these essential services enables the office to make significant contributions to the safety of all of New York State.

About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services  

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination, and support to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters and other emergencies. For more information, find DHSES on Facebook, on Twitter or visit dhses.ny.gov.  

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