Elmira Heights- The Chemung County Fire Advisory Board will hold a graduation ceremony for 20 graduates of the Spring and Fall 2011 Classes of the Firefighter 1 training program today, Friday, February 10, 2012 at the Dr. Nathan Cohen School auditorium beginning at 6:00 pm. The training program was offered by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services through the Office of Fire Prevention and Control. The graduates of this program represent eleven local volunteer fire companies and will now become probationary firefighters in those departments.

Deputy Chemung County Executive Michael Krusen and Michael Smith, Director of Chemung County Fire and Emergency Management will join the department’s Fire Chiefs in conferring the diplomas to the graduates.

The Spring and Fall 2011 graduates includes: Ricky Sunter, Makerdi G. Charlery, Julie A. Sharp, and John D. Vargeson from the Big Flats Fire Department; Phillip N. Snell from the Chemung F.D.; James S. Newns, Jr. from the Erin F.D.; Stacy F. Keener from the Horseheads F. D.; James W. Knuppenburg from the Millport F.D.; Steven C. Adams from the Pine City F.D.; Andrew M. Schrock and Caleb J. Comfort from the Southport F.D.; Jennifer L. Greatsinger and Jennifer M. Hayes from the Town & Country F.D.;  Jesse M. Bodiea, Jamie L. Coats, Ronald L. Coats, and Andrew J. Novakowski from the Van Etten Town F.D.; Levi M. Merrick and Lucas L. Kastenhuber from the Van Etten Village F.D. and Samantha A. Novakowski from the Wellsburg Fire Department.

The Firefighter 1 class is offered twice per year and is instructed by NYS Fire Instructors of which we have four in Chemung County.  The 91-hour training was held at the Town and Country and Big Flats Fire Stations with hands-on training taking place at the County Fire Training Facility in the Lattabrook Industrial Park. The training includes hazardous material operations level training as well as National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) training.  Classes are held two nights per week over a four month period.

Individuals interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter can contact the Chemung County Fire and Emergency Management Office at (607) 737-2096 or their local fire department.  The next Firefighter 1 class will be held in April of 2012.