For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Canton Firefighter Graduates from Massachusetts Firefighting Academy

CANTON — Chief Charles E. Doody is pleased to announce that Firefighter Katie McLaughlin graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy this week.

On Monday, Jan. 22, Firefighter McLaughlin was among the 35 graduates from 24 fire departments at a ceremony for the 260th class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.

The 22-year-old Canton native was one of three women in the graduating class. She becomes the first female firefighter for the department since 2014. She graduated from Canton High School in 2014 and had been working for Fallon Ambulance as an EMT and paramedic since 2015.

“We are all proud to see Katie graduate from the academy and I am confident that as she begins her career she will be an asset to the Canton Fire Department,” Chief Doody said.

Firefighter McLaughlin first came to the department as part of the Canton High School externship program. She spent time observing and working in the department and riding along in the apparatus. She eventually decided that being a firefighter was the career she wanted to pursue.

“She is a trailblazer for Canton High students looking to gain real-world experience with our fire department,” Chief Doody said. “We have had three externs since Katie. Two of them are currently following her path and are completing paramedic school and taking the Civil Service exam.”

The academy graduates were recognized at a ceremony at the Department of Fire Services headquarters in Stow.

The 10-week program teaches the essentials of structural firefighting, hazardous material response and flammable liquid and flammable gas firefighting.

Firefighter McLaughlin is now certified at the Firefighter II level and is a certified paramedic. She began her career with the Canton Fire Department yesterday and has been assigned to Group 1.

The graduates from other communities included: Andover, Attleboro, Barnstable, Cotuit, Fitchburg, Hopkinton, Methuen, Needham, Newton, North Attleboro, Norwood, Plainville, Springfield, Tewksbury, Truro, Wakefield, Walpole, Wellfleet, Westminster, Westport, Whitman, Winchester and Yarmouth.

During the ceremony, retired Clinton Fire Chief John McLaughlin, no relation, spoke about his over 40 years in the fire service.

To learn more about the Fire Academy and how to enroll, visit The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Department of Fire Services website.

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