North Andover firefighters Blake Adams and John McClellan Jr. graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy on Friday, Nov. 6.
The two were part of Career Recruit Class #343, a group of 27 firefighters who completed 10 weeks of training at the academy's main campus in Stow, WHAV reported. A total of 53 firefighters graduated from the academy that week across two classes, representing departments statewide, according to a state press release.
The graduation ceremony also carried a broader milestone. State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine, who spoke at the event, announced his retirement after a career of nearly 30 years in the Massachusetts fire service, according to the Healey-Driscoll administration. Davine will step down as the state's 19th fire marshal on Jan. 22, 2027.
"Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today's graduates are needed now more than ever," Davine said at the ceremony, according to the state press release. "The hundreds of hours of foundational training they've received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely."
To graduate, recruits had to demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack. The program combined classroom instruction with physical fitness training and live firefighting practice.
MFA Recruit Program Coordinator Dean Babineau said the graduates are prepared to serve alongside experienced crews in their home departments and neighboring communities through mutual aid.
Firefighter Brett Donovan of the Danvers Fire Department received the Richard N. Bangs Outstanding Student Award. The honor goes to one recruit per graduating career class based on academic and practical performance.
Before his state appointment, Davine served as chief of the Northampton Fire Department. He was the first state fire marshal to have graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy and is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He was sworn in on Aug. 16, 2023.
The eight-member Massachusetts Fire Service Commission will meet to determine the process and timeline for choosing Davine's successor.
Adams and McClellan return to the North Andover Fire Department as certified career firefighters.
