New Fall River, New Bedford, and Lakeville firefighters to take part in merged fire academy in Fall River

Fall River Fire Chief Roger St. Martin, New Bedford Fire Chief Scott Kruger, and Lakeville Fire Chief Michael O’Brien are pleased to announce that the Fall River, New Bedford, and Lakeville Fire Departments will conduct a merged fire academy for firefighter recruit training starting March 28.

Most of the training will take place at the Fall River Fire Department’s Training Facility located on Commerce Drive in Fall River. The recruits will attend a ten-week academy allowing them to obtain their Firefighter I & II state certification. The Fall River Fire Department will be welcoming eighteen new firefighters, with the New Bedford Fire Department welcoming ten new members, and the Lakeville Fire Department will welcome one new member. All three departments will pool their instructors, resources, and equipment which results in cost savings for all three departments.

The Massachusetts Fire Academy will also aid the three departments through their Recruit Assistance Program. The Fall River Fire Department routinely hosts Massachusetts Fire Academy training classes including the Call/Volunteer Firefighter Academy. The New Bedford Fire Department also conducts its own recruit firefighter training which is delivered at its own training facility located on Aviation Way. Since 2019, including this recruit class, the New Bedford Fire Department has trained and graduated thirty-one recruit firefighters.

This is not the first time the New Bedford and Fall River Fire Departments have combined resources to train recruit firefighters. According to a statement, in 2011, both departments combined with the assistance of the MA Fire Academy to train fifty new members.

The recruits will receive training in emergency medical care, basic firefighting skills, hazardous materials emergencies, and rescue skills including vehicle extrication. The recruits will receive instruction from MA Fire Academy instructors along with instructors from all three departments who offer decades of firefighting and rescue experience.