Kingston Firefighters Graduate from Somerset Fire Academy

Three firefighters from the Kingston Volunteer Fire Company # 1 graduated from the Somerset County Fire & Emergency Service Training Academy in Hillsborough.

Firefighter Augustino Racanati completed the New Jersey State Certified Firefighter I Course in June. With a combination of classroom and hands-on participation, the new firefighter candidate masters the basic firefighting skills.  

A written and a proficiency exam are given at the end of the course. A passing grade is required by the state.

Some topics covered in approximately 200 hours are Right-to-Know; Safety; Medical Care, Knot Tying, ICS-100, Fire Behavior; Chemistry of Fire; Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA); Extinguishers, Forcible Entry, Ladders, Rescue Procedures, Ventilation; Water Supply; Hose and Nozzle Handling Techniques ; Salvage and Overhaul; Sprinkler Systems; Radio Communications; Bloodborne Pathogens, Wildland Fires, Utility Emergencies, Thermal Imaging Camera and Rope Rescue and Hazardous Materials Awareness.

Firefighter Racanati first met members of the department at the Kingston Community Barbeque on September 11, 2010. He was accepted for membership in October 2010. Firefighter Racanati has a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School.

Firefighters Ryan O’Shea and Ray Sison graduated from the Firefighter II course in June. This 94-hour course is for the firefighter who wants to expand his/her knowledge of firefighting.

It covers more advanced firefighting techniques such as Thermal Imaging Camera; Vehicle Fires; Advanced Forcible Entry Problems; Oriented Search; Building Construction; Fire Streams; Fire Scene Operations, Fire Fighting Foam; Self Rescue Techniques; Reading Smoke; Vehicle Extrication Awareness; Alarm Systems; Class B Foam; Propane; Residential Operations, Hazardous Materials Operations, ICS-200 and makes extensive use of live fire training using the Swede live fire training system. 

A passing grade is required by the state.

Firefighter O’Shea is a three-year member of the department and is a graduate of South Brunswick High School.

Firefighter Sison is a three-year member of the department and has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Amherst College and a Masters in Pharmaceutics from Long Island University

The costs for these courses are paid for by the Board of Fire Commissioners.

Anyone interested in joining the professional volunteers in the Kingston Fire Company can email Chief Lloyd Mathis at chief@kingstonfireco.com.