On Tuesday evening, December 10, 2024, Newtown Square Fire Company member John Carollo graduated from the Chester County Public Safety Training Center, after completing his PA Firefighter 1 and National Firefighter 1 Certification tests.

Chief Chris Young, and lead instructor John DeMarco joined John for a photo and congratulations just after the ceremony.

The 136-hour course started on September 5th and finished on November 16th. John and the other members of his class dedicated 19 weeknights and 10 weekends to complete their training.

The Pennsylvania Entry Level Firefighter curriculum is composed of four separate courses that together require 188 hours of both classroom and hands-on training. The training at times is rigorous and includes several days of live-smoke and live-fire training. Students must be in good physical condition to complete the class.

The class consisted of courses that need to be completed to meet the standards of the Pennsylvania Entry Level Firefighter. Included in the curriculum are Introduction to the Fire Service, Fire Ground Support, Exterior Firefighter, Interior Firefighter, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, First Aid, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Hazardous Materials Operations.

Chief Chris Young was grateful to John and his family for the time and effort he put forward to help his community. Chief Young also noted that training is considered a crucial element of the fire service, as it equips firefighters with the necessary skills and knowledge to respond effectively and safely to emergencies, minimizing property damage and ensuring their own safety while on duty. It acts as the backbone of a fire department to ensure proper execution during operations.

Congratulations to John!