Four Long Hill Township residents have successfully completed the state required training to become a firefighter by successfully completing the Fundamentals of Firefighter Skills training, known as Firefighter 1. They are among the state’s newest firefighters and eagerly look forward to serving Long Hill Township with their brother and sister firefighters of the Stirling Volunteer Fire Co.
They graduated on Thursday evening, July 14, from the Morris County Public Safety Academy in Parsippany. After their graduation the Stirling firefighters and the graduate’s families held a ceremony for them in the Stirling firehouse where each man turned in his probationary firefighter helmet shield to Fire Chief Kevin Phillips who awarded them their new firefighter shield with their individual number. They and only they will ever have that number. The graduates and their number are George Alto #120, Joe Giere #128, Chris Hoffman #129, and Alex Honegger #127. George’s son, Justin, has been an active Stirling firefighter. The Firefighter 1 course gives the nonfirefighter the basic knowledge and skills of firefighting that consist of classroom and “hands on” training.
One of the most exciting elements of the training is fighting simulated structure fires with real fire, heat, smoke, and saving occupants of the structure. The student firefighters trained inside actual fire, heat, and smoke conditions under different scenarios.
Any Long Hill Township resident interested in becoming a Stirling volunteer firefighter may get information on the fire company’s website: www.stirlingfd.com. Membership is open to residents 16 years old and older, male or female. Training is provided at no cost to the member.
(above l-r) The Township’s newest firefighters proudly display their new helmet shields after completing several weeks of firefighter training: Alex Honegger #127, Chris Hoffman #129,
Joe Giere #128, and George Alto #120. Photo by Frank Reilly, Stirling firefighter.
