07/18/2026
Graduation day started with a bang! While Battalion 3 was preparing for their day of running calls, the other students marched up to the ARFF site and had the cool experience of watching actual airport firefighters use an ARFF truck to extinguish a simulated airport emergency. We were lucking enough to have multiple instructor with us today that used to or still do work for various air ports or military installations as Crash Rescue firefighter. In one of the photos Instructor Liu is explaining what is happening during this evolution live as it was happening. After that we had a great demonstration of fire attack and how controlling doors and windows can effect the fire. Our instructors used what is referred to as a Doll House to burn and use different windows and interior dividers to show what actual fire does. After that it was time to get to work.
-Battalion 1 spent the day stretching, flowing and repacking hose. It sounds simple but they have really progressed throughout the week. Today they took skills that they learned over the week and used them to advance hose up stairs, down stairs, through houses and around large objects. Thanks to Brookline Fire Department - NH for the use of their new Rescue Co #1.
-Battalion 2 worked up a sweat with our experienced forestry team. They learned the basics of wildland fire control using nothing more than some hand tools to control the spread. They also learned about the specialty hoses that forestry teams use when they are traversing  steep terrain and through heavily wooded areas.  After lunch, they had their final exercise which included a live wild land Fire. They utilized all of the skills they had learned in the morning to control the fire. They cut fire line around it and then use hand tools and hose to control it and then extinguish it. They even got to use drip torches to set backfires!
-Battalion 3 had the time of their life running “On Duty” calls today. They started the shift like any other firehouse, they hung their gear at the appropriate riding position and then started cleaning and doing station chores. Then the first call of the day came, a structure fire! They responded to the scene with the assistance of trucks and operators from Allenstown NH Fire Department Truck Co #2, Plaistow Fire Department Engine Co #8 and Pelham Fire Department Engine Co #3. Once again this day would not be possible without the support of these local fire departments.  Once the initial fire was extinguished and placed under control they returned to the fire station. Then a service call came in with reports of some sort of Alarm sounding in a building. But when the single engine showed up, they realized there was smoke coming from the building and they requested a full assignment. It took the entire battalion working together to extinguish search and ventilate the building before it was deemed under control.  After lunch they responded to a motor vehicle accident and while they were operating at that scene, they had reports of an additional structure fire. Some crews were able to respond immediately while others had to mitigate the current emergency before they were able to respond to the Fire. This was done because many departments around the state see back-to-back calls, and even though they may have a large number of firefighters on duty, not all of them can respond at once.  Our goal is to give these students realistic scenarios and this is one that plays out around the state every single day. 
Once the day was done, the students had some time to clean up before graduation. This year we were able to partner with FLAME Natural Decon soap to help to decontaminate our students. All week we teach good habits to the students and by far the most important good habit is proper decontamination after a structure fire or exposure to cancerous material. What we do as firefighters and what we are exposed to while doing our job can take a toll on our bodies throughout our career, so it was very important for us to be able to provide this product to our students. We want to ensure that these kids have a long and healthy career in the fire service.
After a little time, cleaning up all of the equipment and then cleaning up themselves, it was time for graduation. They had some final words of wisdom from the command staff and their battalion officers. That was followed by the graduation ceremony.
Tonight we are just posting a few graduation photographs, but in the coming days and weeks we will post additional photographs.
 Finally we wanted to thank you for trusting us with your young firefighter for this entire week. Behind the scenes our volunteer staff has worked throughout the year spending many many hours prepping for this week. Many of us were Explorers, Cadets or Jr Firefighters growing up so we really enjoy paying it forward to the next generation. Thank you again, in the coming days, weeks and months we will continue to post photographs for you all to enjoy.
Until next year, stay safe.
