Bedford Fire Department Welcomes Two Firefighter/Paramedics

For Immediate Release
Friday, July 31, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Bedford Fire Department Welcomes Two Firefighter/Paramedics

BEDFORD — Chief David Grunes is pleased to report that two firefighter/paramedics joined the Bedford Fire Department after graduating from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy this afternoon.

Perry and Stewart are the first two in a group of four paramedics hired in Bedford to assist with the department’s transition from to providing Basic Life Support to Advanced Life Support (ALS) services to the community.

“We are excited to begin the process of transitioning the department to ALS,” said Chief Grunes. “Firefighters Perry and Stewart will bring important lifesaving skills to Bedford that will help ensure our move to Advanced Life Support is smooth and effective.”

Beford will introduce the new paramedic program to the community in mid-September and will begin providing ALS on a part-time basis at that time as well. Current firefighters will be required to complete training, and future hires will be required to complete paramedic training.

The intensive, nine-week state firefighting academy for municipal firefighters involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, skills training and live firefighting practice.

Firefighters learned the basic skills they need to respond to fires including how to contain and control them, public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques and rappelling.

To graduate, firefighters were required to demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack (ranging from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multi-room structural fires).

“This rigorous professional training provides our newest firefighters with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely,” said State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan in a statement.

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