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DRACUT — Fire Chief Richard Patterson and the Dracut Fire Department are pleased to report that three new firefighters have joined the Department.

DRACUT — Fire Chief Richard Patterson and the Dracut Fire Department are pleased to report that three new firefighters have joined the Department.

Firefighters Andrew Poitras, Ronald Patterson III, and Michael Silva graduated last week from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Career Recruit Program.

The 10-week program prepares firefighters for basic firefighting, including search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, fire attack and life safety lessons, as well as non-fire responses and hazardous material response. 

“The rigorous professional training they’ve received provides them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely,” said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey.

Firefighter/EMT Poitras, 29, is a U.S. Army veteran.

Firefighter/EMT Patterson, 22, is a Dracut native and third-generation firefighter. His father, Lt. Ronald Patterson Jr., and grandfather Ronald Patterson work and worked for the Lynn Fire Department.

Firefighter/EMT Silva, 23, is also a Dracut native.

The firefighters were among 26 who graduated with the Firefighting Academy’s 304th Class, representing the Dracut, Acton, Attleboro, Billerica, Blackstone, Chelmsford, Gardner, Lexington, Plainville, Tewksbury, Westford, Wilmington, and Woburn Fire Departments.

“I congratulate Firefighters Poitras, Patterson and Silva, who completed the rigorous training offered at the Firefighting Academy,” said Chief Patterson. “The three men will be a welcome addition to our department, and I am pleased to welcome them to our team that is dedicated to protecting Dracut.”

At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, firefighter recruits learn a wide range of skills in an intensive 10-week program. Certified and more experienced firefighters lead classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training and firefighting practice. Students are given training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques and rappelling. Upon successful completion of the Recruit Program, all students have met national standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001.

Client News,  Fire News Dracut Fire Department,  Massachusetts Firefighting Academy

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