MIDDLEBORO — Middleboro Firefighter Kyle Ohrenberger was one of 21 graduates of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program, the state fire marshal’s office announced Monday, Dec. 2.

“Massachusetts firefighters are on the front lines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever,” said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. “The hundreds of hours of foundational training they’ve received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.”

 Students receive classroom training in all basic firefighter skills. They practice first under non-fire conditions and then during controlled fire conditions. 

To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack. Fire attack operations range from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multiple-room structural fires. 

Modern firefighters train for and respond to all types of hazards and emergencies, the fire marshal’s office reported. They are the first ones called to respond to chemical and environmental emergencies, ranging from the suspected presence of carbon monoxide to gas leaks to industrial chemical spills. 

They may be called to rescue a child who has fallen through the ice, an office worker stuck in an elevator, or a motorist trapped in a crashed vehicle. They test and maintain their equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus, hydrants, hoses, power tools, and apparatus.