Beverly Firefighters Graduate From State Fire Academy

BEVERLY, MA — Four probationary members of the Beverly Fire Department completed their 50-day Massachusetts Fire Academy training late last week.

Pat Cronin, Derek Marshall, Mike Reynolds and Ronnie Williams finished the program on Friday.

The four were part of a class of 19 representing 12 fire departments who trained at the Stow campus.

"This rigorous professional training provides our newest firefighters with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely," said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey said.

In response to the pandemic, the 10-week curriculum was reorganized to take advantage of online learning technology while ensuring plenty of practical skill experience on-campus with instructors.

Students were on campus Monday through Thursday for short classroom lessons but mostly practicing and mastering new hands-on skills in the drill yard. Students studied in the virtual classroom on Fridays where new topics were covered in-depth.

"First responders are on the frontlines protecting their communities and these newest firefighters are needed now more than ever," Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier said. "We have taken advantage of technology, reduced class size for social distancing, implemented, daily screenings and required mask-wearing to keep our instructors and students as safe as possible during these uncertain times."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and = Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)