New Tripoli firefighter Nicole Mark graduated June 5 from the intensive 192-hour Bucks County Fire Academy course in basic firefighting during a ceremony at the Lower Macungie Community Center.

Mark is one of 24 volunteers from 12 area fire companies who graduated from the course which qualifies them with firefighter certification recognized across the country.

This is the 10th year Lower Macungie Fire Department has sponsored the course in Lehigh County so firefighters do not have to travel three hours each week from January to May to the Bucks County Community College campus.

In addition to 112 hours of basic firefighting skills, volunteers also learned lifesaving and first-aid skills, how to handle hazardous materials, and response to incidents such as antifreeze spills at a motor vehicle accident up to intimidating incidents dealing with weapons of mass destruction.

Mark graduated from Northwestern Lehigh in 2008. She attended Lehigh Carbon Community College and graduated with an Associate degree in education in 2012.

While in college she earned her EMT certification, which started her on the path as an emergency services volunteer.

She has worked as an emergency medical technician for the past seven years, currently serving with Cetronia Ambulance Corps.

She and her husband bought a home in New Tripoli in 2016, and shortly after that, she joined the New Tripoli Fire Company.

Mark will work at the Lehigh County 911 Center as a dispatcher, and will continue to work part time as an EMT and volunteer at the fire department.

“Serving my community is a dream come true,” Mark said. “And it was such a thrill to finish the fire academy course over the past five months, and to be part of the fire company’s history as the first certified female firefighter.”