Margate Fire Department photos
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE The Margate City Fire Department has benefitted by a new training program instituted by the Ventnor City Fire Department for new recruits and experienced firefighters of several shore community departments.
According to Ventnor Fire Chief Michael Cahill, the program for new recruits was completed in seven weeks at a savings over training provided at the county level. The program, which included Ventnor, Margate and Brigantine firefighters, was taught by certified firefighter trainers.
Margate Fire Chief Dan Adams, the city was able to move forward with hiring two firefighters who attended the Hybrid Firefighter 1 Program administered by Chief Cahill and Brigantine.
The program includes training five days a week at local fire stations.
Both departments have run similar programs in the past, and it has been a pleasure for Margate to be included this time around, Adams said.
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Margate conducted some of the training courtesy of a Margate resident whose property was being prepared for demolition. Four recruits and several experienced firefighters participated in the drill.
The amount of hands-on training these recruits are receiving is second to none. As we move forward, we will be going out to the Atlantic County Fire Training Center next week to perform additional training, including live fire training, search and rescue and ventilation operations to name a few, he said. The Margate City Fire Department would like to thank both Chief Cahill and Brigantine Fire Chief Platt, for including Margate City Fire Department in this excellent training opportunity.
Cahill reported that the training program shaved two months off the time normally required to become a certified firefighter and resulted in a savings in short shift overtime.
