Massachusetts Fire Academy (2024)

Chief Neil Foley, on behalf of the Plymouth Fire Department, congratulates Firefighter Andrew Soell upon his graduation from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy today.

Firefighter Soell was among 24 firefighters from 10 departments to graduate from the academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class #301 today, May 20. Graduates were recognized at a ceremony at the Department of Fire Services headquarters in Stow.

The 10-week program teaches the essentials of fire and non-fire conditions, life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack. Firefighters Soell is now certified at the level of Firefighter I and II and in hazardous material operation.

“We are extremely proud of Firefighter Soell for successfully graduating from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy today,” Chief Foley said. “Firefighter Soell has deep ties within the Plymouth community and we look forward to watching him continue to serve his community in a new capacity.”

Firefighter Soell was appointed to the department on Sept. 7, 2021. Prior to joining the Plymouth Fire Department, Soell served the Plymouth community as a member of the Plymouth Police Department since 2014.

He is a graduate of Plymouth South High School Class of 2004. Upon his graduation, Firefighter Soell went on to join the U.S. Coast Guard. During his time in the Coast Guard, he earned several medals and awards, including receiving twoUSCG Commandant’s Letters of Commendation for his service.

At the ceremony today in Stow, Firefighter Soell’s brother, Plymouth Fire Capt. Joshua Soell, assisted with presenting him his diploma.

Upon his graduation, Firefighter Soell will be assigned to Engine Company 1 Group 2 at the Headquarters Station.

The other 24 graduates represent the fire departments of Arlington, Bellingham, Chelsea, Ipswich, Lynn, Malden, Natick, Stoughton and Tewksbury.

The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy:

At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, firefighter recruits learn a wide range of skills in an intensive 10-week program. Certified and more experienced firefighters lead classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training and firefighting practice. Students are given training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques and rappelling. Upon successful completion of the Recruit Program, all students have met national standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001.

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Chief G. Edward Bradley is pleased to announce that Plymouth firefighter Cory Cunniff graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy today.

Firefighter Cunniff was among 25 firefighters from 13 departments to graduate from the academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class 300 today, April 8. Graduates were recognized at a ceremony at the Department of Fire Services headquarters in Stow.

The 10-week program teaches the essentials of fire and non-fire conditions, life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack. Firefighters Cunniff isnow certified at the level of Firefighter I and II and in hazardous material operation.

“On behalf of the Plymouth Fire Department, we would like to congratulate Firefighter Cunniff for completing this rigorous training,” Chief Bradley said. “This training solidifies his commitment to providing the best possible service to our community members and we wish him the best of luck as he embarks on his new journey within the fire service.”

Firefighter Cuniff joined the Plymouth Fire Department in September 2021. Prior to joining the department, he served in the U.S. Army in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

Firefighter Cunniff is a Massachusetts Certified Emergency Medical Technician and is currently pursuing an associate’s degree in fire science from Massasoit Community College. He serves as a member of the Massasoit Student Senate Executive Board. He is also a Class of 2007 Plymouth South High School graduate.

Upon his graduation, Firefighter Cunniff will be assigned to Engine Company 1 at the Headquarters Station.

The other 24 graduates represent the fire departments of Andover, Beverly, Clinton, Dracut, Malden, Methuen, Needham, North Andover, Reading, Sudbury, Wellfleet and Westminster.

The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy:

At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, firefighter recruits learn a wide range of skills in an intensive 10-week program. Certified and more experienced firefighters lead classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training and firefighting practice. Students are given training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques and rappelling. Upon successful completion of the Recruit Program, all students have met national standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001.

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Chief G. Edward Bradley is pleased to announce that three members of the Plymouth Fire Department graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy earlier today.

Firefighters Timothy Barron, Liam Cosgrove and Kyle Mason, Jr. were among 24 firefighters from 17 departments to graduate from the academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class 294 today, Aug. 27. Graduates were recognized at a ceremony at the Department of Fire Services headquarters in Stow.

The 10-week program teaches the essentials of fire and non-fire conditions, life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack. Firefighters Barron, Cosgrove and Mason are now certified at the level of Firefighter I and II and in hazardous material operation.

“We are pleased to have these three firefighters with deep ties to the Plymouth community join our ranks within the Plymouth Fire Department,” Chief Bradley said. “I’m proud of the work they’ve accomplished at the academy and I congratulate them on their graduation. I look forward to watching them begin their fire services career serving the Plymouth community.”

Firefighters Barron, Cosgrove and Mason all graduated from Plymouth North High School.

Firefighter Barron went on to attend Merrimack College prior to joining the department. His family has a long history within fire services with his dad having served at the Quincy Fire Department for 40 years before retiring as chief. Firefighter Barron’s brother, Joseph Barron, Jr., is a captain at the Quincy Fire Department with 17 years of service. His late grandfather, Deputy Fire Chief William Barron (Ret.), was also a member of the Quincy Fire Department and his uncle, Deputy Fire Chief Alan Predella (Ret.), served for 32 years with the Braintree Fire Department.

Firefighter Cosgrove went on to attend the University of Massachusetts following his high school graduation. Firefighter Cosgrove concurrently serves in the Massachusetts Army National Guard where he holds the rank of First Lieutenant of the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment at the 164th Transportation Battalion.

Firefighter Mason attended the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. While attending the academy he interned with the Plymouth Department of Marine and Environmental Affairs as an assistant harbormaster. He is also a certified EMT and has experience working within the 911 dispatch system for Brewster Ambulance Service.

Firefighters Barron, Cosgrove and Mason joined the Plymouth Fire Department in January. Prior to attending the Massachusetts Fire Academy, they each completed in-house training at the department. They will be stationed at the Headquarters Station on Engine 1 beginning next week. Firefighter Barron is assigned to Group 2, Firefighter Cosgrove is assigned to Group 3 and Firefighter Mason is assigned to Group 4.

The other graduates represent the fire departments of Bedford, Chelmsford, Fitchburg, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lexington, Lynnfield, Medfield, Medway, Newton, Randolph, Wayland, Westminster, Weston and Woburn.

The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy:

At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, firefighter recruits learn a wide range of skills in an intensive 10-week program. Certified and more experienced firefighters lead classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training and firefighting practice. Students are given training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques and rappelling. Upon successful completion of the Recruit Program, all students have met national standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001.

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Chief G. Edward Bradley is pleased to announce that two legacy members of the Plymouth Fire Department graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy today.

Firefighters Tyler Thomas and Edward Gellar, Jr. were among 23 firefighters from 17 departments to graduate from the academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class 293 on Friday, July 23. Graduates were recognized at a ceremony at the Department of Fire Services headquarters in Stow.

“Both Firefighters Thomas and Gellar are following in their family’s footsteps working within fire services at the Plymouth Fire Department,” Chief Bradley said. “I look forward to watching these two young men grow in their careers and the positive impact they will have on the community they serve.”

Firefighter Thomas’s father, Lt. Eric Thomas, is a 12-year veteran Fire Lieutenant with the Plymouth Fire Department. Firefighter Gellar’s father, Edward Gellar, Sr., is the Department’s Chief Master Mechanic, a position he’s held for the past 19 years. Firefighter Gellar’s grandfather, Peter Gellar, was also a Plymouth Fire Captain before retiring from the Department in 2002.

Firefighters Thomas and Gellar joined the department inJanuary. Prior to attendingthe Massachusetts Fire Academy they both completed in-house training at the department. Both will be working out of the Headquarters Station on Engine 1 beginning next week. Firefighter Thomas is assigned to Group 3 and Firefighter Gellar is assigned to Group 1.

The 10-week program teaches the essentials of fire and non-fire conditions, lfe safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack. Firefighters Thomas and Gellar are now certified at the level of Firefighter I and II and in hazardous material operation.

The other graduates represent the fire departments of Auburn, Braintree,
Charlton, Clinton, Devens, Gloucester, Hopkinton, Middleton, Nantucket, Newton, Norfolk, North Andover, Northborough, Reading, Tewksbury, and Weston.

About The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy:

At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, firefighter recruits learn a wide range of skills in an intensive 10-week program. Certified and more experienced firefighters lead classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training and firefighting practice. Students are given training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques and rappelling. Upon successful completion of the Recruit Program, all students have met national standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001.

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Chief G. Edward Bradley is pleased to announce that four members of the Plymouth Fire Department graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy today.

Firefighters Colin McHugh, Daniel McGrath, James Delano and Eric Coon were among 16 firefighters from seven departments to graduate from the academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class 291 today, May 7. Graduates were recognized at a ceremony at the Department of Fire Services headquarters in Stow.

“We are proud to announce the graduation of Plymouth Firefighters McHugh, McGrath, Delano and Coonfrom the Massachusetts Fire Academy today,” Chief Bradley said. “These four individuals have shown a commitment to service as U.S. veterans, and we look forward to them serving the Plymouth community alongside our department.”

The 10-week program teaches the essentials of fire and non-fire conditions, life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack.

Firefighters McHugh, McGrath, Delano and Coon are now certified at the level of Firefighter I and II and in hazardous material operation.

Firefighter McHugh, a United States Navy veteran, will be assigned to Station 1 Group 2. Firefighter McGrath, a United States Marine Corps veteran, will be assigned to Station 1 Group 3. Delano, a United States Air Force veteran and active Massachusetts Air National Guard member, will be assigned to Station 1 Group 3. Firefighter Coon, a United States Army veteran, will be assigned to Station 1 Group 4.

Firefighters McHugh, McGrath, Delano and Coon were appointed to the Plymouth Fire Department on April 6.

The other graduates represent the fire departments of Acton, Haverhill, Lynnfield, Malden, Watertown and Westborough.

The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy:

At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, firefighter recruits learn a wide range of skills in an intensive 10-week program. Certified and more experienced firefighters lead classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training and firefighting practice. Students are given training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques and rappelling. Upon successful completion of the Recruit Program, all students have met national standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001.

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