New firefighters celebrated at Somerset County Fire Academy’s first ceremony since COVID

Alexander Lewis, MyCentralJersey.com
·2 min read

Central Jersey has dozens of new firefighters, and their graduating class celebrated the feat with an in-person ceremony for the first time since the pandemic began.

Somerset County held its Fire Academy graduation on Jan. 27, adding 38 new firefighters to 24 Central Jersey departments that protect the public during home fires, floods and other life-threatening situations.

“This is an exciting day. This is our first live graduation of the Somerset County Fire Academy since before COVID, so a nice round of applause for a little return to normal,” said Somerset County Office of Emergency Management Director Lisa Werner, who oversees the Emergency Services Training Academy. “I am so proud to be here to be a part of these firefighters’ training, and to ensure that this academy is here to serve the people of Somerset County for many generations to come.”

Members of the Summer and Fall 2022 First Year Firefighter class of the Somerset County Fire Academy at the Academy’s first in-person graduation since the pandemic began, at the Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy in Hillsborough on Jan. 27.
Members of the Summer and Fall 2022 First Year Firefighter class of the Somerset County Fire Academy at the Academy’s first in-person graduation since the pandemic began, at the Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy in Hillsborough on Jan. 27.

Founded in 1991, the Fire Academy is part of Somerset County’s Emergency Services Training Academy in Hillsborough, as part of the Office of Emergency Management. The Academy is tasked with providing educational training and certification for fire, EMS, CERT, Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, search and rescue, amateur radio testing, hazardous materials handling and other public safety personnel in Somerset County and throughout the state.

“It is no small thing to commit to enter a burning building, to carry dozens of pounds of gear on your back into unfamiliar spaces, to be ready to save someone else’s life at a moment’s notice,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Doug Singleterry. “You give us all the faith that our homes and loved ones are protected at all times, and that when disaster strikes there are highly skilled, highly trained, highly motivated neighbors ready to come give us the help – and hope – we need to recover.”

The Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy has dozens of classes for aspiring and experienced firefighters, EMTs, CERT members and other first responders schedule throughout the spring and summer of 2023. To learn more, visit www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/public-health-safety/emergency-services-training-academy/training-courses, call 908-725-5070 or email trainingacademy@co.somerset.nj.us.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Somerset County NJ Fire Academy celebrates first post-COVID graduation