Firefighters complete training at academy

The Monmouth County Fire Academy graduated 31 volunteers from its Firefighter I class on Dec. 11. Twenty-five other Firefighter I volunteers were graduated on Dec. 3. The fire academy is on Route 33, Howell.

According to a press release from the county, the firefighters attended weekend classes beginning in September and have logged 135 hours of course work. They received training in rescue, fire extinguishment, hazardous materials response, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, electrical safety, and care of hoses and other equipment.

Monmouth County Freeholder Theodore J. Narozanick, who attended both graduation ceremonies, commended the new firefighters for their dedication and willingness to serve. He also thanked their families.

“You will get called in the middle of the night or in the middle of dinner,” Narozanick said. “You will drop what you are doing and go, because you are dedicated and understand that your service could mean the difference between life and death. I commend each of you, and thank each of you for your service. I also want to thank your families who support your brave endeavors.”

Like the 10,000 other firefighters who receive training at the fire academy each year, this new group of firefighters worked hard to achieve their goals, said William Itinger, chief training officer at the facility.

“They are all very dedicated,,” Itinger said. “I have no doubt the communities where they live will be better protected because these men and women went through our training.”

Each firefighter was awarded a Firefighter I certificate.

In addition to Itinger, instructors included Stanley Sickels, Armand Guzzi, Clifford Blasi, Gorden Prochnow Sr., Daniel Miller, Skip Jelliff, Paul Knowles, Hugo Fleites, Edward Moore, Kevin Keddy and David Volk.

Firefighter I students from Class 63 (graduated Dec. 3) were: Jordan Ali, Long Branch, Justin J. Banasz, Howell, Hal M. Brager, Manalapan, Matthew J. Cadott, Farmingdale, Kevin Calabria, Union Beach, Sean D. Coffey, Spring Lake, Brian C. Ecks, Allentown, Dwight Farias-Rios, Freehold Township, Mario S. Farmakis, Hazlet, Oliver W. Fetter, Shrewsbury, Richard A. Gallo III, Oceanport.

Also, Andrew C. Gengaro, West Long Branch, Thomas M. Genovese, Union Beach, Barry F. Gonzales, Keansburg, John T. Gurczeski, Hazlet, Jocelyn N. Harris, Neptune, Jesse M. Johnson, Keyport, Jason W. Kallaur, Marlboro, Robert A. Krzywicki, Spring Lake, Kevin J. Lane, Howell, Michael A. Natoli Sr., Hazlet, Nicholas J. Saffioti, Long Branch, Barry J. Trosu, Belmar, Shawn J. Valance, Hazlet, and Joseph Welch, Hazlet.

Firefighter I students from Class 64 (graduated Dec. 11) were: Joseph D. Abate Jr., Holmdel, Paul Moncrief Jr., Keyport, Richard Alcala, Manalapan, Timothy D. Morrissey, Fair Haven, William R. Buscaglia, Freehold Township, Andrew R. Ollwerther, Freehold Township, Jason A. Cardamoni, Eatontown, Frank A. Perrone, Holmdel, Oliver C. Chang, Marlboro, James T. Pierson, Red Bank, Ryan M. Chiste, Allentown, Cory M. Power, Howell, Mow Chu, Ocean Township, Andrew W. Prochnow, Freehold Township.

And, Michael R. Deaney, Colts Neck, Andrew C. Rempfer, Wall, Matthew J. Deponti, Fair Haven, Joseph A. Rossi, Wall, Thomas R. Deveney, Brielle, Michael M. Therien, Keyport, Michael J. Dubois, Manalapan, Andrew T. Wehmann, Millstone, Matthew A. Galasso, Englishtown, Daniel A. West, Manasquan, Grant T. Glickson, Manalapan, Douglas R. Ziemba Jr., Holmdel, Daniel R. Hamilton, Spring Lake Heights, Thomas J. Horner, Hazlet, David F. Kawas, Eatontown, Dawn M. Kiefer, Belmar, and Nicholas J. Megill, Neptune.