Fireman

PR guy fighting the animal

At 45 years old, I recently graduated from Bergen County’s (N.J.) well-respected fire academy in Mahwah, N.J.  As a result, I’m about to shed my probationary status as a member of the Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J., volunteer fire department.  At the August graduation ceremony, which encompassed some 30 towns in northern New Jersey (including a few full-time paid departments), I was, by far, the oldest graduate.  Two friends of mine in town, Dan Monchek and Vince McCarthy, also in their 40s, went through the rigorous firefighting training with me — as we proudly represented the older generation in our class. 

Speaking for myself, it was difficult to keep up with those in their late teens and early 20s, but we more than held our own.  Candidly, it was miserable at times, as the training included 50 three-hour classes, including classroom lessons and practical sessions on one of the most advanced firegrounds in the country (e.g., search and rescue, roof ladders, high-rise window entry and exit, fire suppression). 

With makeups and tests, it took me about a year to complete.  But I left the stage at the ceremony with pride that I had undertaken such training, given my background as a public relations pro, typically stuck to computer and phone. 

While I’m not the greatest of firemen (the professionalism, firefighting experience, and commitment in the Ho-Ho-Kus volunteer fire department is truly incredible), I’m learning by the day.  I also have shown some sense of volunteerism to my two grade school daughters, Julia and Elizabeth. 

I’ve included a few shots of me (you can make out the “Healy” on the jacket) from the Academy’s ”practical” test, which somehow I passed.  The photo below is the test to gauge knowledge of footing and raising a 35-foot ladder as a three-member team.  The above shot shows the test station, where I’m backing up my buddy, Vince McCarthy, going after the “animal” on the firegrounds.

Footing the ladder