On Thursday May 8, Josh Talley successfully graduated from the Chester County Fire Academy Fire Fighter I class. This is a grueling 172 hour “recruit” level basic firefighting course. The goal of the course is to provide a person with little or no previous fire service training or experience with the basic knowledge and skills required to function safely and effectively as a member of a fire suppression team functioning in today’s environment. To participate in the course represents a significant commitment on the part of the candidate over a nine week period spanning both week nights and weekends.

As part of this course Josh also received training in Haz Mat Operations, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and was drilled in Interior Structural Burn fires at the county’s burn buildings in West Chester. At the end of the 172 hours, nine week course, Josh tested for the PA State Volunteer certification and National Firefighter I. Everyone at WGFC is extremely proud of Josh’s achievements because he is now able to fully participate as Fire Fighter Talley in fire suppression activities alongside his brothers and sisters at Stations 12, 22 and 32. As a Lincoln University resident Josh will primarily run out of Station 12 off of Newark Road.

At the ceremony Fire Fighter Talley was presented with his certificate by Norman Forde (Lieutenant 12) and the lead instructor for the Class Instructor John DeMarco. Also in attendance were Josh’s parents Sue and Pete, his sister Kristina and girlfriend Heather and several of his new WGFC family.