Westwood Fire Department Recruit Graduates from Firefighting Academy

Westwood has a new graduate from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.  Mark Jones-Maynard was one of sixty recruits from thirty-one fire departments in the state who graduated this Friday, May 20, 2022.

State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey and Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier, acting director of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA), announced the graduation of firefighters from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. Graduates completed a fifty-day training program at Stow, Springfield, or Bridgewater. Jones-Maynard was one of nineteen recruits who trained at Springfield campus, and the only one from Westwood.

“First responders are on the frontlines protecting their communities, and these newest firefighters are needed now more than ever,” said State Fire Marshal Ostroskey. “The rigorous professional training they’ve received provides them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.”

Along with the other recruits, Jones-Maynard received classroom training in all basic firefighter skills. He practiced first under non-fire conditions, and then during controlled fire conditions. To graduate, he had to demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack. Fire attack operations range from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multiple-room structural fires.

Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. Westwood's newly minted firefighter, Mark Jones-Maynard, is pictured here with his graduating class. He is in the bottom row, fourth from the left.

Today’s firefighters do far more than fight fires. They train to respond to all types of hazards and emergencies. They are the first ones called to respond to chemical and environmental emergencies, ranging from the suspected presence of carbon monoxide to fentanyl overdoses or a gas leak. They may be called to rescue a child who has fallen through the ice or who has locked himself in a bathroom. They rescue people from stalled elevators and those who are trapped in vehicle crashes. They test and maintain their equipment including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), hydrants, hoses, power tools, and apparatus.

Thanks to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services for contributing this news to Westwood Minute.