Vocational High School Students Visit Fire Academy Day-Long Program Exposes Students to the Fire Service

Students from the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School (SVAHS) in Northampton (MA) recently spent a day learning about the fire service at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.

The group of 10 juniors arrived at the Department of Fire Services’Springfield campus on March 21, 2023, and started the day with a short tour of the facility, which houses DFS administrative offices as well as MFA classrooms, props and apparatus. Assistant Coordinators Rich Craven and Mike Gelinas of the Academy led a discussion on the mission, values, and duties of the fire service, then brought the students into the apparatus bay to don the full sets of turnout gear, from helmets to boots, which they wore during all exercises.

The students progressed across the campus in two groups to observe and practice basic firefighter tactics. They conducted forcible entry training using Halligan bars, both on their own and with partners who used either a second Halligan or an eight-pound axe. They learned about interior search tactics in the twostory Search and Rescue prop, conducting twoperson right-hand searches in the darkened building, then reversing direction and using their left hands to find their way out. While at the Search and Rescue prop, they also joined municipal firefighters observing a tabletop backdraft demonstration led by Assistant Coordinator Bill Schuetze using a fire dynamics training prop.

Back on the drill yard, the students learned about the different types of ladders that firefighters use. They practiced carrying and throwing 16-foot ground ladders, and they tried their hands at raising an extension ladder using a stationary prop. Afterward, the group doffed their personal protective equipment and had a lunchtime discussion of careers in public safety with Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier.

The SVAHS visit was coordinated by Dr. Sara Pragluski Walsh, the Academy’s instructional design and curriculum development specialist. It was the second visit of its kind at DFS, following a June 2022 visit by Shrewsbury High School students to the Department’s Stow headquarters. Additional visits to Springfield and Stow are scheduled for later this year. DFS officials hope to expand the opportunity to young people from across the Commonwealth at all three campuses.

- Submitted by Jake Wark

Haddam’s Joshua MeyerHonored with Masonic Lodge’s 1st Hometown Hero Award

In March, the brothers of Haddam’s Masonic Lodge Granite No. 119 honored Haddam (CT) Volunteer Fire Company Captain and EMTJoshua Meyer with their inaugural “Hometown Hero” award.

The prize was established in 2023 by the Connecticut Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Freemasons to recognize first responders, “For their outstanding work in our communities.” The award can be presented to a police officer, firefighter, EMT, doctor, nurse, teacher or military personnel.

Masonic Brother and former HVFC member Dylan Kessler described Captain Meyer as “Someone who has provided exemplary service to the town of Haddam with the fire company and Haddam Volunteer Ambulance Service as well as extensive service with the U.S. Air

Force.”

Meyer, who is the son of Firefighter and Fire Police Chief Malcolm Meyer, is of one seven active or veteran military servicemen who are currently members of HVFC. He currently is a Master Sergeant in the Connecticut Air National Guard where he serves as the Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC) of the Emergency Management Flight.

“I’m very honored that the Masonic Lodge 119 chose me as their first recipient of the Hometown Hero award,” Captain Meyer said. “But I don’t think of myself as a hero, I just feel the call to give back to my community by serving however I am able.”

The award was accompanied by monetary donations to HVFC and Captain Meyer from

Granite Lodge 119 and the Connecticut Grand Lodge.

Pictured, from left, are Masons Jeffrey Ogilvie, Chris Turkington, Gordon Hurlbert, HVFC Captain/EMTJoshua Meyer, HVFC Chief Sam Baber; Masons Dylan Kessler, Hank Roberts, and Ian Lewis.

- Fire News photo by Olivia Drake