Aug. 1 is World #LungCancer Day. Firefighters face a higher risk of developing #OccupationalCancer, including lung cancer, than the public they protect. The Mass Fire Academy offers free Chest CT scans to help identify lung cancer and other health issues: mass.gov/info-details/o….

Congratulations to the members of Career Recruit #Class331! They're graduating from the Mass Fire Academy next week after 10 long weeks of training. Join us in Stow at 11:00 am on 8/8/25, or visit youtube.com/dfsosfm that afternoon for video of the ceremony!

Today is #NationalCampfireDay! If you're observing the occasion, please do it responsibly. Almost all #BrushFires and #WildlandFires start with human activity like cooking & camping. Our good friend Smokey Bear has helpful tips for a fun, safe #Campfire: ow.ly/aO3E50PsqzS

It's that first Saturday of the month, and that means it's #SmokeAlarm Saturday! Every household needs working smoke alarms and #CarbonMonoxide alarms on every level. They're especially important in and outside all sleeping areas. Learn more: ow.ly/szAm50Wve4M

Fires and burns involving gasoline spike in the warmer months. Always keep it away from heat, sparks, and open flames; use it only as fuel, not a solvent; let the engine cool before you refuel; and always store it in an approved container in a secure location outside the home.

.Massachusetts State Police fire investigators help Massachusetts State Fire Marshal's office fulfill a mission that dates back more than 130 years. Want to learn how it all started? Read about the nation's first state fire marshal in the archives of the All Hands Herald: ow.ly/ok1650WnWOv

#OTD in 1790, the US Congress authorized construction of 10 vessels to enforce tariff and trade laws. Over the next 234 years, this small naval force became the maritime, military, multi-mission service we know today as the U.S. Coast Guard. #HappyBirthday and #SemperParatus, #USCG!

Will we see you tomorrow night? Our side-by-side sprinkler trailer will put the #FastestWater on real fire at East Longmeadow FD's Public Safety Open House around 6:30pm on 8/5/25, and a DFS Rehab unit will be at University Park for City of Worcester's #NationalNightOut! See you then!

The DFS Special Operations team has three Incident Support Units to assist at emergency scenes and pre-planned events. They feature a full array of communications, conferencing, and mapping capabilities. Learn more about requesting Special Ops assets: ow.ly/ZZS150WAHag

#LearningTheRopes: Ropes and knots can be used to secure a ladder to a railing, haul tools to a firefighter on an upper level, and more. To use them safely, recruits at the Mass Fire Academy receive hands-on instruction in these essential tools, their uses, and how to tie them.

Ready to make a difference in your community? Apply to take the 2025 Municipal Firefighter Exam before August 27. Visit mass.gov/info-details/2… for info via Massachusetts Civil Service.

#CrashCourse: Mass Fire Academy recruits get hands-on training in stabilizing a vehicle and using cutters, spreaders, rams, and hand tools for extricating occupants. Like all the skills they learn, these are taught by veteran firefighters with years of real-world experience.

#ICYMI: The joint investigation by #SomervilleMA FD, SomervillePolice, & Massachusetts State Police fire investigators assigned to Massachusetts State Fire Marshal determined that Sunday night's fire was accidental and most likely started with an unattended candle in a bedroom. More: ow.ly/a1O650WE5m3

Fire isn't the only hazard. At the Mass Fire Academy, instructors train recruits on how to rescue a brother or sister firefighter who has fallen through a weakened floor. Using a handline is one method, but others are taught in recruit training and the Advanced RIT course.

If you, a friend, or a relative are looking for a new apartment for September, choose one that has working #SmokeAlarms and two ways out in an emergency. Thousands of young people are preparing to rent their first home away from home next month: let's help them live safely.

DFS Special Ops staff recently delivered Incident Support Unit 1 to assist Onset Fire/Rescue at the Cape Verdean Festival. Our ISUs can help fire/rescue incident commanders monitor planned events, communicate with each other, and view drone footage to identify hazards or emergencies.

The oils in some stains & varnishes release heat as they dry. Oily rags left in a pile, a box, or trash can ignite hours after use. Dry them outdoors individually and place them in a metal can with water for disposal at a household hazardous waste event: ow.ly/FYO150UI0Iz

#OTD in 1975, 8 firefighters perished and more than a dozen were injured at the Gulf Oil Refinery Fire. #Remember Philadelphia Fire Lt. James Pouliot, FF John Andrews, FF Carroll Brenek, FF Ralph Campana, FF Robert Fisher, FF Hugh McIntyre, FF Roger Parker, & FF Joseph Wiley.

The Department of Fire Services will hold the next license and certification exams for Fire Suppression and Commercial Hood Cleaning on 9/17/25 at our Stow and Springfield campuses. The application deadline is on 8/22/25. To learn more and apply, visit ow.ly/ieoT50QT9kt.

The Mass Fire Academy will be delivering its High Voltage Emergency Awareness course at Salem MA Fire next month. Students will receive classroom instruction followed by up-close experience with the MFA's training trailer. Register w/ course code EPN: ow.ly/IGr350Wy4SZ!