2016 Volunteer Fire Academy graduates pose following the Jan. 25 ceremony at Skyline High School.
FRONT ROYAL — As an auditorium of family and friends looked on, 13 newly-trained volunteers marched across the stage and graduated from The Warren County Fire and Rescue Services Department on January, 25.
The class, consisting of five women, eight men, six high-school students and one veteran all spent five months completing a rigorous training program that will lead to certification in Firefighter Lever 1 and 2, Hazardous Materials Operations, Infection Control, First Aid, CPR, Highway Safety and Landing Zone Operations. The students participated in over 320 hours of classroom instruction and three written state exams to be eligible for graduation from the program.
Fire Marshal Gerry Maiatico, who also served as one of the instructors of the academy, said the group would “develop and grow into the backbone of the department.”
Those receiving awards in the group include: Adrian R. Farrall, Outstanding Academic Achievement; Michael G. Cruz, Most Improved Student; and Juliana C. Velozo, Outstanding Performance.
Guest speaker Larry A. Oliver, District Chief of the Front Royal Volunteer Fire Department, told the group that they were entering into a ‘second family’ where communication and relying on each other was vital to succeeding.
The presentation of certificates to the graduates was conducted by Fire Chief Richard E. Mabie, County Administrator Douglas P. Stanley, Board of Supervisors members Linda Glavis and Tom Sayre and Capt. Kevin D. Catlett.
