For Immediate Release

Friday, March 10, 2017

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

Whitman Firefighters Complete EMS and Fire Training

WHITMAN — Chief Timothy J. Grenno is pleased to announce that he and three members of the Whitman Fire Rescue recently completed training classes to be better prepared for a number of emergency scenarios.

Lt. Robert Hover and Firefighter Matthew Busch completed a six-day Emergency Medical Service Incident Operations course at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md. from Feb. 25 through March 3. During the training, EMS personnel reviewed the Incident Command System and studied techniques for management of medium to large incidents involving multiple sick or injured patients. Topics included problem-solving and EMS functions within incident command, resource management, interagency and mutual aid, size-up and strategy, tactics and action plans, EMS company operations, pre-incident preparation, incident organization and strategic command.

Firefighter Busch, who has been a member of the department since 1998, is the EMS coordinator and oversees all EMS operations. Lt. Hover, a veteran of the Whitman Fire Department since 1988, currently serves as a shift commander and assists with information technology.

Lt. Alfred Cunningham is now a certified Fire Officer 1 after completing supervisor training from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy in the fall. The course covered how to effectively manage emergency scene operations, supervise personnel and communicate with the public. The 60-hour class included 32 online hours and 28 classroom hours.

Chief Grenno attended a three-day professional development conference in Worcester from Feb. 28 through March 2 that was sponsored by the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts. At the conference, he participated in programs on command and control of fire incidents, active shooter roll out, a speaker presentation on risk management with nationally renowned speaker Gordon Graham, and more.

“I’m extremely proud of the members of our department who are now better prepared for a variety of situations,” Chief Grenno said. “Our goal is to be ready for any scenario that may develop in our community so that we can best serve and protect our residents.”

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