The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) held a graduation ceremony Friday, October 9, for the nine graduates of the 2015 Fire Protection Specialist Training Academy. The ceremony was held at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.

These nine experienced firefighters underwent 22 weeks of training at the New York State Academy of Fire Science located in Montour Falls, New York.  Fire Protection Specialists must be seasoned firefighters who have had gone through rigorous training and testing to be admitted to the academy.   During the training, students received specialized instruction in over 20 areas including the Incident Command System, New York State codes, fire investigation techniques, live fire training, fire behavior and arson awareness, basic structural collapse operations and other special response awareness courses, hazardous materials training, water rescue training, and an overview of fireworks and pyrotechnics.

Today’s nine graduates will be joining 113 State Fire Protection Specialists across the state and will be installed in specific disciplines such as fire inspections and investigations, technical rescue, hazardous materials response and fire fighter training.  

DHSES Commissioner John Melville said, “I am proud to welcome these graduates to the Division.  These men and woman who keep us safe from fires may also be called upon to assist our communities during emergencies, disasters and other serious incidents throughout the state and this training is essential for keeping New Yorkers out of harm’s way”

State Fire Administrator Bryant Stevens said, “These nine individuals have completed an intensive training program designed to prepare them for the assignments and tasks that lie ahead.  The fire protection specialist is expected to have extensive knowledge and skills in a number of highly technical areas relating to fire protection and through the course of this academy they have all demonstrated a solid grasp of the concepts and illustrated their ability to perform their future assignments well.  I expect great things from each of these individuals and I have confidence they will meet the challenge."

The following is a full list of the graduating Fire Protection Specialists, assigned specialties and their region:

Graduating are:

About DHSES

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and its four offices -- Counter Terrorism, Emergency Management, Fire Prevention and Control, and Interoperable and Emergency Communications -- provide leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies.  For more information, visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter, or visit dhses.ny.gov.