NGA and the Academy offer the course 10 times per year. Each workshop is 2 days in length. Day One of training involves classroom instruction focusing on the basic characteristics of each of the three products - natural gas, LNG and propane; a review of accepted firefighting equipment; and an in-depth discussion of practical scenarios. Day Two is devoted to actual firefighter training involving real life situations. Certificates are awarded to participants who successfully complete the full program. The program trains about 200 students per year. Attendees come principally from utilities and fire agencies in the Northeast, but also from throughout the U.S.

 

The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA), established in 1971, is one of the premier training facilities in the U.S. for firefighting professionals. MFA provides fire training to municipal fire service personnel at no cost to the cities and towns. The policy making body for the Academy is the Massachusetts Fire Training Council, a 13 member body appointed by the Governor. The Council is also the sole agency that can certify all levels of fire service personnel in the Commonwealth. Fire service certification is provided to stimulate professional development in the Massachusetts fire service and to allow members a means to demonstrate their ability to meet professional qualification standards through an objective measure of their professional knowledge, skills, and abilities.