For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-9003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Maynard Fire Department Sponsors Training and Safety Classes

MAYNARD — Chief Anthony Stowers is pleased to announce that the Maynard Fire Department sponsored two training opportunities for Maynard firefighters and other area departments over the last week.

Beginning Thursday, Sept. 15 and running until Saturday, Sept. 17, the Maynard Fire Department hosted a rope rescue course which was put on by the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. The course was an operational level class designed to give students the basics required to perform rope rescues.

Topics covered included rescue knots, rope types, rope rescue hardware and techniques, such as rappelling. Classroom sessions were held at the Maynard Public Library and hands-on sessions were held at the Maynard Fire Station and at Mill and Main in the parking garage. Two Maynard firefighters attended the class and the remainder of the students were from area fire departments.

Additionally, the Maynard Fire Department sponsored a firefighter health and safety program at the State Police Crime Lab, 124 Acton St. on Monday, Sept. 19. The program was taught by nationally recognized speaker, Lt. William Greenwood of the Keene, N.H. Fire Department, and is designed to better prepare firefighters for the dangers of interior firefighting.

“We are so pleased to be able to continue to offer these valuable educational opportunities that help keep our firefighters safe and able to do their jobs to the best of their abilities,” Chief Stowers said. “Building construction and materials have changed dramatically over the years, causing fires to burn much faster than they used to and we want to make sure firefighters have all the tools necessary to work safely.”

Firefighters also learned about commanding mayday situations where a firefighter may be lost, hurt or trapped. The majority of students were from the Maynard Fire Department, but the Maynard Communications Division, Hopkinton Fire, Westborough Fire, Northborough Fire and Stow Fire Departments all had representatives there as well.

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