Forty-six volunteer firefighters from across Bucks County have earned national certifications in Basic Fire Academy Training, celebrated at a graduation ceremony held Tuesday, May 19, on the Newtown Campus of Bucks County Community College.
The event was organized by Bucks County Community College’s Department of Public Safety Training and Certification, which serves as a regional hub for training first responders throughout the county.
The graduates completed hands-on training at the Bucks County Public Safety Training Center in Doylestown and the Lower Bucks County Public Safety Training Center in Croydon.
They received their certificates of completion at the ceremony held in the Newtown Campus Gymnasium.
Keynote and Recognition
Tracie Young-Brungard of the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner delivered the keynote address, honoring the graduates for their commitment to protecting their communities as volunteers.
Two firefighters were singled out for exceptional leadership during their training. Eric Green of New Hope, a volunteer with the New Hope Eagle Fire Company, and Bruce Andrew Ferry of Bristol, a volunteer with the Third District Volunteer Fire Company in Bristol Township, each received the outstanding student award for their class.
The honors were presented by Bucks County Community College President and CEO Dr. Patrick M. Jones and Matthew Hatrak, the College’s executive director of public and contracted training.
A Community of Volunteers
Among the graduates at the ceremony were members of Spring Battalion 2, including Matthew Shaw, Tracy Topolin, Vladimir Usatin, and Steven Whiskeyman, who completed their Basic Fire Academy Training at the Bucks County Public Safety Training Center in Doylestown.
Volunteer firefighting remains a critical part of fire protection across much of Bucks County, where dozens of companies depend on trained community members.
The Basic Fire Academy Training program at Bucks County Community College provides those volunteers with the nationally recognized credentials they need to serve safely and effectively.
Bucks County Community College, founded in 1964, offers more than 90 programs of study at campuses in Newtown, Bristol, and Perkasie, as well as online through Bucks Online. Its Department of Public Safety Training and Certification serves first responders across the region with accredited training programs in fire, emergency medical services, and related fields.
