Testimonials 

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I just wanted to thank you for the training lesson plans and programs you sent and I have subsequently completed training our department with. As a small department we don't have very many fires and were are in need of new training ideas. Each tranining session ("Ground Ladders", "The First 5 Minutes" and "Vent or Shut the Front Door") were received well with our department members.
Sometimes you need to get back to the basics and build from there which is what we are in the process of doing. I look forward to ordering more plans from you. This has changed our outlook on fire attack and given us new/fresh perspective.
Thank you so much for the materials you and your crew have put together for us. Take care and be safe.

-- Sgt. Mark McDill , Public Safety Sergeant, Fraser Department of Public Safety. Fraser, Michigan

We hired Meridian to teach our RIC/RIT some techniques, based on our successful OSHA class with them last March.  Our crew was extremely receptive, to what I like to call, their in touch with "reality" teaching practice. Tom and Trevor will be serious, but realistic, and fun!
They brought props for the famed "Denver Drill", which we are planning to build and match. They also brought new techniques with a backboard into play, which was new to ALL of us!  Very successful and very fun!  Tom and his crew are already hired for our OSHA Class this year and we will be requesting them again for another RIT drill with neighboring Dept's joining in.

They are top notch!

-- Captain Chris Batzel, East Avon NY Fire Dept.; Firefighter, City of Rochester Truck Co. 2

Thank you very much for coming over to do the CPR class for us. Everyone loved it! One girl said she doesn't want to take a class with anyone but you from now on! Thank you again!

-- Marie Snell, Cayuga Family Medicine, Ithaca NY

If you are looking for a training company to just come to your Fire Department to merely satisfy your training requirements, this is not the company for you.
If you are looking for a company to train your Firefighters by using hands on, real life training scenarios that push your Firefighters to their limits and if you are an Officer that is concerned for the safety of your Firefighters, then Meridian IS the company that you are looking for!
I would like to personally thank Tom and his staff......you are a credit to the Fire Service!

--Captain James K. Langler, Sempronius Fire Department 

As always, thank you for an awesome training session. Each year's class is so important...they need the refresher, they enjoy the class, and it is nice to have you gently encourage them to try new things each year. You guys are the best!  Have a safe season! I'm sure I'll see you guys in my travels.

-- Kathie E. Notarfonzo, General Park Manager, NYS Office of Parks -- Finger Lakes Region

Tom, Thanks for the CPR instruction, it was a great class, fast and professional.  We hope to have you come back for another class, thank you again for sharing your knowledge with us.

-- Herb Sheffield, Stork H&E, Ithaca, NY

We liked the classes so much we would like to book you again for next year, and we would like to do with our sister company, Southside FD.  People had nothing but good things to say about the class and we all enjoyed it.  Thanks again and be safe out there.

-- John Hickey, Asst Chief, Campville FD, Endicott, NY

Thank you for a very informative OSHA class. We have always done them as part of our weekly training but this year we decided to try something different and hire Meridian to do it.
I was very impressed with the course. The way you designed it is extremely beneficial to firefighters. Many times it pays to have some new blood teach, the firefighters can get tired of the same department personnel teaching week after week.
Again Thanks for a great job. I know we will have you back.

-- William J. Palmer, Sr., Fire Chief - Ovid, NY FD

Tom,

I just wanted to send a quick note to say Thank You for scheduling us so quickly on such short notice. I understand that you fit us into your already full schedule. We are very grateful not only for this, but also the price.
Several of the staff members present that evening had said that your presentation style was refreshing. They feel they received the practice and information in a relaxed, yet energetic atmosphere conducive to their learning styles.
Thank you again. Looking forward to working with you in the future.

-- Desiree Dobbin, RN, Guthrie Endoscopy Center

I received great feedback on your training capabilities... and my guys are very picky. They liked the fact that you didn't talk down to them... you were clear and direct with your instructions without over kill.  They also said it was the best training class they've had this year and we average two training classes per month so great job!

We'll be seeing you again.

-- Cindy Green, Vapor Stone Rail Systems, Plattsburgh, NY

Tom Basher and the rest of the Meridian Instructors are top notch. They deliver real world training that is relevant and direct. We recently conducted the National Fire Academy's "Calling the Mayday" class with two other neighboring departments. I can't speak for the others but the crew from Genoa FD learned pertinent skills that could save lives some day.

Thanks for a great class Tom!

-- Jon Marcotte, Captain, Genoa Fire Department

"You guys did an AWESOME job with the class! I was very pleased with how it went and most of all by the positive feedback the crew gave me afterwards.  We will definitely be in touch to have you guys back!

Have a safe summer...enjoy!

-- Kathie E. Notarfonzo, Employee and Patron Health,  Safety and Emergency Management - Finger Lakes Region

"As always, you did a great job.  You seem to know how to "read" your audience and explain things at a level they can relate to and remember.  I'm sure that we'll be seeing more of you in the future."

-- Thanks, Doug Keefe, Chief, Speedsville Fire Co Inc

"I just wanted to offer some feedback. The people from Meridian Fire Training who did the CPR & First Aid class were really great instructors (Tom & Ken). I have taken more than 20 of these courses over the years and even taught some of this material before. I was really impressed with their knowledge and materials. I would highly recommend them.
Thanks for setting it up."

-- Gratefully yours, Amelia Massi

"Instructor Ken Thompson did a great job!  We did not expect anything less. He taught more common sense real world stuff not and so much of looking at road signs like in other classes.  Class after class I hear members talk about how much they enjoy your training. I even hear it after a "classroom only" nights.
Thanks"

-- Pat Merical, District Chief, Three Towns Fire District, Cayuga County, NY

"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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