County Executive Neuhaus commends Firefighter 1 Graduates

Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus attended the County’s Firefighter 1 graduation ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the Emergency Services Center in Goshen.

Neuhaus was joined at the graduation by Orange County Sheriff Carl E. 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,” said Neuhaus, a past graduate of the County’s Fire Training Program. “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.”

This year’s Firefighter 1 graduating class included men and women from the following County Fire Departments: Campbell Hall, Chester, Cronomer Valley, Fort Montgomery, Greenwood Lake, Highland Falls, Howells, Mechanicstown, Middle Hope, Middletown, Monroe, New Windsor, Orange Lake, Otisville, Pine Bush, Pocatello, Port Jervis, Salisbury Mills, Silver Lake South Blooming Grove, Vails Gate, Washingtonville, Washington Heights and Warwick.

Firefighter 1 is a comprehensive and intensive introductory 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.

“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," Tankasali said. "I offer my congratulations and best wishes as well as gratitude to them all.”