GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith is pleased to announce that firefighter Nicholas Aiello graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy today.
Firefighter Aiello was among 37 firefighters from 23 departments to graduate from the academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class 275 on Friday, Aug. 9. 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.
Firefighter Aiello was hired by the Gloucester Fire Department in February 2018. A lifelong Gloucester resident, Firefighter Aiello graduated from Gloucester High School in 2011, after which he served in the U.S. Navy for four years. Aiello later earned his paramedic certification from Northern Essex Community College.
Aiello is the son of retired Assistant Chief Tom Aiello, the nephew of Assistant Chief and Emergency Management Director Joe Aiello, and brother of Firefighter/Paramedic Matthew Aiello.
“Congratulations to Firefighter Aiello on this accomplishment. We are confident his training and education has prepared him to serve the city of Gloucester for many years to come,” Chief Smith said. “The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy offers a rigorous program, and graduating speaks volumes about a person’s dedication to firefighting and serving their community.”
The other 36 graduates represented the fire departments of Beverly, Canton, Easton, Fairhaven, Foxborough, Gloucester, Holden, Hopkinton, Mansfield, Medfield, Methuen, Milford, Nahant, Norwood, Reading, Saugus, Scituate, Seekonk, Swampscott, Watertown, Westborough, Westwood, and Winchester.
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.
###