Testimonials 

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"In a nutshell Basher as a Fire/Rescue instructor is a home run. Meridian has produced programs out of the box to provide the knowledge needed for both the everyday and the rare and unique incident responses. If your municipal or industrial department is searching for the training offered by Basher & company I would recommend you contact them."

-- Pete Rizzo, Captain (retired) Rochester NY FD, President Tech Rescue Corp.

"Last week I finally had the opportunity to make my first primary search and attack in extremely smoky conditions. I did what I've been trained to do, and we saved the house, saved the dogs, and all went home. I got to see smoke coming from the attic and the fire turned out to be in the basement! Just like you said it could. The necessity of staying low, the enormous difference made by ventilation, and a whole lot of other stuff you've talked about but which I hadn't gotten to see for myself yet. Saw some other kinds of stuff, too, going mutual aid the night before that fire. People not wearing all their gear, including officers. One was doing overhaul without SCBA, pausing to have coughing fits, and then going on like that was normal. 
I got to grab an air pack only to find its low pressure hose entangled in the straps of the pack next to it. 
I got to see why you don't have two attack lines across from each other pushing the fire all over the place, and what happens when you have water supply issues. Thanks for doing things right instead of half-assing them, and insisting that people you train do likewise. Apparently not all instructors or officers do that."

-- Firefighter, Danby Fire Department

"Just a quick note to thank you SO much for the wonderful presentation you did for our Welliver McGuire folks on Wednesday, October 17th in Montour Falls! 

It was very educational to actually use an extinguisher. I have been associated with the Bath Fire Department (thru marriages) for the past 40+ years, and fortunately never had to use one before! 

We had a lot of positive feed-back from our folks – so - Thanks again!   Marie"

-- Marie Francisco, Director of Safety Administration, Welliver McGuire Inc., Montour Falls, NY

"Since my Fire Fighter 1 training, all the way to our current monthly trainings, Tom Basher has shown devotion to teaching all of his students. The encouragement he has given me has provided me with much more confidence and assurance that anything is possible. 

Thank you for giving me the strong ability to handle situations with proficiency, skill, and technique.

Thanks for everything. You have definitely impacted my life, because I am a much stronger person. Thank you for being a "tuff cookie"

-- Christie Nickles, Interior Fire Fighter, Newfield

"Tom, we would like to thank you for the Chimney Fire Training you gave us in the Fall. We had not had a chimney fire in five years and then we got one on Jan 2nd. Having the training fresh in every ones mind, the call went very well. The fire was extinguished and cleared out in just one hour. We really appreciate the knowledge you bring to our Fire Dept. We look forward to seeing you for the next training."

-- Josh Nalley, The Office of the Chiefs Genoa Fire Dept

"We have had 2 structure fires this month in the town of Newfield.  I wanted you to know that both fires were extinguished in a timely manner with as little damage to the residences as possible. I want to thank you for what you have taught my folks in the Company!!! I have seen a marked difference in their skills and fire ground operations and believe whole heartedly that your trainings are 100% the reason for this improvement. I am the proudest Chief in the world right now and I owe it to you for the training and to my firefighters for their eagerness to train. They are professionals!

Thank you again"

-- Chief Kevin Wall, Newfield Fire Co, Newfield NY 14867

 

"Tom,
On the behalf of the membership of the Genoa Fire Dept, we would like to thank you for your time and knowledge you have gave us.  Although you are there teaching us very important techniques, you really make it very fun and keep the interest alive.  As you know we are a small Dept. that run very few fires, but with the trainings you have done for us it has put the basics back into are minds preparing us that much better for the next time are pagers trip for a fire.  Thank you very much and we will be seeing you again.

-- The Office Of the Chiefs, Genoa Fire Dept. Genoa NY

"Newfield is a small rural Fire Company who is blessed with top of the line equipment.  We have excellent support of our community and strive hard to provide the town and village of Newfield with above average
fire and EMS services.  In reality, we have failed to provide our members with the proper training on a regular basis for several years.  This problem is all to common in the volunteer service and is in dire need of
being addressed.  

I have chosen make the commitment to my Company and bring in the professionals.  Firefighting expert Tommy Basher made this happen and has dedicated his time and effort to me and my members to ensure safe, accurate and uniform training standards for us to follow.  My membership has very much enjoyed the training schedule he drafted and he has earned the trust and respect of the entire Company.  His teaching skills speak for themselves and the participation of all levels of Firefighters is amazing.  I have not seen an outpouring of members in the Newfield Fire Company willingly and eagerly attending training on a regular basis.  As the Chief, I am confident that with the training Tom and his fellow instructors are providing, Newfield will join the ranks of being a well trained and respected Fire Company.  The answer to an age old question... "How do we recruit and retain members?", is simple; "Meridian Fire Training Solutions"!!!!  I want to thank Tom and Meridian Fire Training Solutions for meeting and exceeding all my training expectations!!"

-- Chief Kevin Wall, Newfield Fire Co, Newfield NY 14867

"Tom

Just wanted to say thanks.  I finally got my first reasonable non-training fire experience today and although there were skills I should have performed better, you and the Academy seem to have done a very good job training me.

I confidently went in today and pulled ceiling and later vented two windows all the while keeping my head about most importantly not forgetting absolute essentials like keeping track of my partner and building escapes.  You're a very good teacher and I much appreciate what you do for all of us:  me, Cayuga Heights, and the rest of the state."

-- Joe Palin, NYS Academy Graduate RFFT 2005-1, Firefighter Cayuga Heights Fire Dept

"As the Chief of the Cayuga Heights Fire Department I have known Tom Basher for several years and admired him as the best fire instructor I have ever met. Tom personally trained almost every member of my fire department. When he told me that he was starting his own company to teach fire classes that are not offered by the state I was very excited. Meridian seemed to me to be the solution to our problem of getting great fire training at the station, offered by qualified and trained instructors, when we need it at an affordable price. The basic firefighting skills taught at Firefighter One and Survival and FAST need to be followed up with further training to keep the skills sharp. Meridian meets this need. 

When he offered up the Large Area Search Class, to meet the obvious need for this specialized training, I immediately signed up my entire FAST team to take the class. After an entire day of training my firefighters walked away dog tired but smiling and patting each other on the back for doing so well by the end of the day. 

Tom and the instructors at Meridian Training Solutions are all well qualified and trained instructors. The classes they teach to our department keep firefighters captivated. This company offers departments the opportunity to get great training at an affordable price."

-- George Tamborelle, Cayuga Heights NY Fire Department Chief

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