Utica Fire Academy graduates complete 14 weeks of training

Utica Fire Academy’s 44th graduating class was presented with their badges Friday, ready to go on and serve their communities.

Founded in 2004 by former fire chief Russell Brooks, the Utica Fire Academy is a 14-week program offering basic and specialized training.

“It’s a pleasure to watch these graduates evolve the past 14 weeks,” Utica Fire Chief Scott Ingersol. “I can’t wait to see them return and see how far they’ve come.”

The following fire departments sent their firefighters for training for a total of 30 graduates:

• Amsterdam Fire Department
• Auburn Fire Department
• Cohoes Fire Department
• Fayetteville Fire Department
• Glens Falls Fire Department
• Gloversville Fire Department
• Ilion Fire Department
• Oneonta Fire department
• Rome Fire Department
• Saratoga Fire Department
• Schenectady Fire Department
• Scotia Fire Department
• Tonawanda Fire Department
• Utica Fire Department

The graduation ceremony took place on the Mohawk Valley Community Campus in Utica.

Local, state, and county officials, including Utica Mayor Michael Galime and Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, were in attendance.

“I want to recognize that there are 30 people standing on stage today — 30 people who have prepared their minds and bodies for a lifelong journey as firefighters,” Galime said. “And this academy in Utica, multiple times a year, presents a stage of people who are prepared to serve. And not just in Utica, but all over the state. It’s truly unique. Three recruits are joining the Utica Fire Department. The other 90% will be taking their training across the state, protecting and serving their communities in all spaces.”