Westchester Career Firefighters Academy Class 01-08 Graduates

[hudson144 150]

In a very organized professional setting today Westchester County graduated 16 members from the career chiefs of Westchester Co. Fire Academy. Under the Direction of Deputy Chief Thomas Duffy (FDMV) Captain Robert Benz (NRFD) and Dave Russel (LT. FDNY RET) along with the staff of Westchester DES and the County Fire Instructors the 16 weeks of training was concluded today. Enjoy your career guys!

[efd184 59]

Congrats Brothers!

[CPAGE 2]

16 for dept's

And good luck with your new jobs be safe.

[x635 4,066]

Here's the official press release. Congrats to all!

16 Recruits To Graduate Career Fire Academy

Posted by Westchester.com

Wednesday, 25 June 2008

White Plains, NY - The longest and most comprehensive training class in Westchester history for career firefighters will culminate Friday when 16 recruits graduate from the Westchester County Career Fire Academy.

The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. in the auditorium of the Medical Education Center, 30 Sunshine Cottage Road at New York Medical College, Valhalla.

Floyd A. Madison, director of the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, will be the keynote speaker at the event.

“This comprehensive training ensures that these recruits are better prepared to immediately go into the field and be a hands-on asset to their departments and communities,” said County Executive Andy Spano, who will also speak at the event. “These young men entered the academy as civilians, complete strangers from all walks of life, and they leave here today as professional firefighters and good friends.”

The academy ran for 16 weeks, and consisted of 640 hours of instruction. It was three weeks longer than prior academies. It was a joint effort of 24 county and state fire instructors and was conducted at the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services Fire Training Center.

The graduates represent the Fairview, Greenville, Larchmont, New Rochelle, Newburgh, Port Chester and Scarsdale fire departments.

Anthony Sutton, commissioner of the county Department of Emergency Services, said, “While they are from different departments, these recruits are one unit. They serve their home department and when called upon will render mutual aid to many other communities – a task that this academy has prepared them so well for.”

All facets of training needed by professional firefighters, was offered. New and expanded instruction was conducted in the following areas:

- Night operations

- Use of thermal imaging cameras

- Live Burns

- Apparatus operation

- Rescue technology and elevator rescue operations

- Critical incident stress de-briefing.

Recruits also received extensive instruction in dealing with basic emergencies that affect the health and safety of residents that involve gas leaks, flooding, water leaks, heating systems, oil tanks, incinerators and other problems that firefighters are called upon to deal with on a daily basis.

There was a special emphasis on physical fitness and agility. John Cockerel and James Seymour, county fire instructors and members of the Scarsdale Fire Department, conducted the physical conditioning program. Under their supervision the recruits achieved exceptionally high scores on the CPAT physical fitness test.

The program was run under the auspices of the Career Chiefs of Westchester and the supervision of the academy director, Deputy Chief Tom Duffy of Mount Vernon, Co-Director Captain Bobby Benz of New Rochelle and Co-Director Lt. Dave Russell, retired of the New York City Fire Department.

List of the academy graduates and their departments:

Neil Davino Fairview

Michael Murray Fairview

Andrew Lee Greenville

Brian Raftery Greenville

Chris Luzzi Larchmont

Gary Bruzzese New Rochelle

Robert Dipasqua New Rochelle

Kevin Langston New Rochelle

Michael Lepore New Rochelle

Durette Tyler New Rochelle

David Wagstaff New Rochelle

Nicholas Williams New Rochelle

Lee Gordon Newburgh

Daniel Rhode Newburgh

Sahnjai Karnsomtob Port Chester

Timothy Hill Scarsdale

[firecapt32 282]

Just my thanks--the class was kind enough to give BurnCare EveryWhere Foundation Inc a nice donation. The donation will go toward the Burn Camp for Kids.

Welcome to the best job on earth brothers.

Fire Capt32

Walter Ferguson

Director Burn Care

any one else that wishes to make a donation or be a part of the golf outing let me know.

[Raz 14]

Welcome to the best job on earth brothers.

That sums it up nicely. Congrats guys.

Edited June 27, 2008 by Raz

[tdc202 0]

Good luck and congrats to the new probies

[ems731 0]

congrats and best of luck

[N1Medic 69]

Best of luck to all!

[ex-commish 490]

Congrats and good luck!!!

[oilflame 0]

congrats

[Guest alsfirefighter]

Best of luck to all of you, it was an honor to work with you guys over the weeks and I look forward to more in the future.

Be Safe!

Kudos to Chief Duffy, Capt. Benz and Lt. Russell. Class act guys who ran a fantastic academy, it was an honor gents.

[FFD260 1]

Best of luck to all...be safe..

Edited June 29, 2008 by FFD260