Departments proud of the young adults
GOSHEN — Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus congratulated three community firefighters at the county’s Firefighter 1 graduation ceremony on December 18 at the Emergency Services Center in Goshen.
Matthew McCue and Connor Salva, from the Fort Montgomery Fire Department, and Emily Green from the Highland Falls Fire Department were among the graduates. All have gone through junior firefighter programs with the departments.
Neuhaus was joined at the graduation by Sheriff Carl DuBois, Assistant District Attorney Chris Borek, Commissioner of Emergency Services Brendan Casey, Deputy Commissioner of Fire Services Vini Tankasali and Orange County Fire Training Chief Jim McCann.
“We are proud of this year’s Firefighter 1 class and the commitment they have made to their communities,” Neuhaus, a past graduate of the county’s Fire Training Program, said. “I commend the graduates, along with the training instructors, participating fire departments, and their friends and families on being a part of this impressive achievement.”
Firefighter 1 is a comprehensive and intensive course required to become an interior firefighter.
The course is comprised of 129 classroom hours and additional take home assignments. Courses were taught by Orange County Fire Instructors at the County’s Fire Training Center in New Hampton and also entailed lectures and hands on training sessions.
“We are proud of this year’s Firefighter 1 class and their dedication to service,” Tankasali said. “It takes commitment and hard work to become a firefighter, and the completion of this course illustrates the willingness of each of the graduates to do what it takes to serve their communities. I offer my congratulations and best wishes as well as gratitude to them all.”
