VALHALLA, NY — August 12 — A graduation event at the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services, located at 4 Dana Road in Valhalla, honored 201 men and women who successfully completed Firefighter 1 training over the past 18 months.

These graduates attended 12 classes between January 2025 and June 2026, and were celebrated by local fire chiefs, members of the Westchester Volunteer Firefighters Association, instructors, family members, and friends.

Firefighter 1 training equipped the recruits with the necessary skills to handle various tasks on the foreground.

The training program at the Westchester County Fire Training Center covered topics such as personal protective equipment, CBA (self-contained breathing apparatus), foreground communication, building construction, fire behavior, ladders, forcible entry, ventilation, water supply, hose handling, fire streams, and first aid.

This training also laid the groundwork for ongoing professional growth within local fire departments.

The Westchester County DES is responsible for managing and organizing the county's fire training program, which supports all local fire departments.

The ceremony on August 12 offered a chance to acknowledge the dedication and effort required to complete the training and start a career as a firefighter.

Local fire departments continue to stress the importance of structured training following Firefighter 1.

For instance, the Dobbs Ferry Fire Department requires new members to attend additional state-approved courses, department-specific drills, and other training sessions during their first few years of service.

The 201 graduates now form another group of trained firefighters who are ready to further develop their skills and serve their communities throughout Westchester County.