GLOUCESTER — Four new firefighters of the Gloucester Fire Department have graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
Firefighter/EMTs Kyle Quinn, John Salvi-Souza, and William Lane were sworn in before starting the Academy in February by City Clerk Joanne Senos, as was Firefighter/Paramedic Clay Whitley.
Quinn, 28, is a 2014 graduate of Gloucester High School, whose father is retired from the Gloucester Police Department.
Lane, 23, is a 2019 graduate of Gloucester High School, whose father is a retired Gloucester Fire Department lieutenant.
Salvi-Souza, 27, is a 2015 graduate of Gloucester High School, who previously worked as a corrections officer.
Whitley, 29, is a 2012 graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, and a recently certified paramedic.
All four men will begin working their first shifts starting on Sunday. They replace four retired firefighters. The department will increase from 62 to 66 line personnel, three short of the 69 firefighters for which the City has budgeted. The process of hiring three more firefighters is already underway.
Gloucester’s firefighters were among the 31 graduates from 14 fire departments to graduate from the Academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class #321. The graduates completed the 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program at the Stow campus.
The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy program teaches the essentials of fire and non-fire conditions, life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack. Graduates are now certified at the level of Firefighter I and II and in hazardous material operation.
“We’re extremely pleased that we were able to find four new firefighters and get them into a single class. Maintaining our budgeted manpower is a challenge and a major priority for me,” said Chief Eric Smith. “All four of these men officially start working on their respective shifts this Sunday and I’m sure it will be the start of four excellent careers.”
