NAHANT — Ryan Dignan began his first full week as a call firefighter on Monday.
Dignan graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy last week.
As a call firefighter, Dignan will take emergency calls from his home in Nahant and undergo daily firefighter training with the department’s eight other call firefighters.
Unlike full-time department members, call firefighters are not picked from an appointed civil service list to serve, and instead volunteer their time. Call firefighters do not work full-time shifts.
Fire Lt. David Doyle said the addition of Dignan will help the department’s call firefighter division as they seek to recruit more call and volunteer firefighters following a decrease in their numbers.
“Usually we have about 15-20 call firefighters,” Doyle said. “Right now, we are trying to build up and recruit more staff in that area.”
Doyle said the department has eight full-time firefighters.
Fire Chief Austin Antrim said the department has another five candidates seeking employment for call firefighter positions and will continue to do more outreach via Facebook and in person in Nahant, Lynn and Swampscott.
Antrim said Dignan will be spending time learning about the Fire Department’s equipment throughout the week.
“We require all of our firefighters to complete the academy and learn basic skills,” Antrim said. “We are always thrilled to get more call firefighters like Ryan.”
Dignan graduated with 20 other students in a call and volunteer recruit firefighter training class. The class spent 240 hours of training during nights and weekends throughout the fall and winter. They were required to learn basic firefighter skills.
The graduation ceremony took place at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School in South Hamilton. Deputy State Fire Marshal and Acting Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Director Maribel Fournier said the graduates trained hard for this moment and are ready to keep their communities safe.
“First responders are on the front lines of any crisis and these newest firefighters are needed now more than ever,” Fournier said. “The rigorous training they’ve completed provides them with the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to protect their communities safely and effectively.”
