
By Mark Gerlach
Eight firefighters graduated the City of Newburgh Fire Department Career Recruit Academy recently. A graduation ceremony was held at Mount Saint Mary College on June 10.
The 12-week training included dragging dummies through smoke and heat, climbing fire escapes and stairs, cutting holes, tying knots, working as a team, navigating through obstacles and mazes, forcing doors down, conducting searches and other drills. The graduates learned how to battle brush, gas and structure fires.
“Being a firefighter is all about trust and teamwork,” City of Newburgh Acting Fire Chief Terry Ahlers said. The new firefighters also learned how to conduct building inspections and issue violations, drive fire trucks and set up firefighting equipment, among other skills.
The training was led by lieutenants Rick LoCicero (academic director) and Scott Mocko (lead instructor) of the Newburgh Fire Department.
“You have a tremendous burden on your shoulders,” City Manager Michael Ciaravino told the graduates and audience members. “You are here to serve our community… you are here to walk into buildings in excess of 1,200 to 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit…”
For the complete story see the Friday, June 17 editions of The Sentinel and Orange County Post.