Firefighter/Paramedic Abigail Meadowcroft, who graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy on Friday, March 17. (Courtesy Massachusetts Firefighting Academy via Gloucester Fire Department)
GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith reports that the Gloucester Fire Department is welcoming a new firefighter from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program.
Firefighter/Paramedic Abigail Meadowcroft graduated from the academy on Friday, March 17, and now becomes one of four women working for the Gloucester Fire Department.
Firefighter Meadowcroft was born in Beverly and raised in Salem. A true New Englander, she attended Salem State University, earning her Bachelor degree in 2018 and Paramedic certification through Dean College in 2021.
The 50-day MFA program prepares firefighters for basic firefighting, including search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, fire attack and life safety lessons, as well as non-fire responses and hazardous material response.
Firefighter Meadowcroft will now begin serving as a probationary firefighter, learning from her colleagues as they work in Gloucester.
“Becoming a firefighter isn’t easy, but Abigail stepped up to the challenge and showed how committed she is during her time in the academy,” said Chief Smith. “We are very proud of her effort, and we look forward to her positive contributions to the Gloucester Fire Department and the community.”
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. About 14,000 firefighters have graduated from the Career Recruit Training program in more than 450 classes.
