State Fire Marshal's Ohio Fire Academy Celebrates Newest Class of EMT Graduates

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal's (SFM's) Ohio Fire Academy celebrated the graduation of its EMT class 0022 during a ceremony earlier today on SFM's campus in Reynoldsburg. The 24-member class, which is the final class of 2025, represents communities throughout Ohio as well as Indiana. A complete list of graduates and their hometowns is available here.

These graduates successfully completed the Academy's rigorous six-week, 166-hour training program, showcasing dedication and determination to join the ranks of Ohio's firefighters and EMTs. The graduates will now join the ranks of first responders in their communities, equipped with the qualifications they need to help protect Ohioans.

This marks the fourth and final EMT class to graduate from the Ohio Fire Academy in 2025, bringing the total number of EMT graduates this year to 82.

"As these graduates return to their communities, they should be incredibly proud of what they have accomplished during their time at the Ohio Fire Academy," said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. "At the same time, their communities should also take great comfort knowing these graduates have been equipped with the knowledge and training they need to help keep residents safe for many years to come. I'm proud of the 82 graduates who completed this training this year, and I'm grateful for the critical work of our dedicated training staff."

EMT graduate Gavin Ash, of Orient, Ohio, returned to the Ohio Fire Academy after recently graduating from its Firefighter Class 241 in July.

"This was a great experience; you get to meet a lot of new people and learn how to really help people," Ash said. "We got to do ride-alongs and really experience what you get to do as an EMT and learn what working that job really looks like. Just being able to learn all of the equipment and gear has been awesome."

The Ohio Fire Academy draws in students from across Ohio and neighboring states. One of those is graduate Dylan Cole, who came to the Ohio Fire Academy from Richmond, Indiana.

"This course was a lot of work, a lot of hours, tests, exams, but through all of that, there was also a lot of hands-on training that prepares us for the real world," Cole said. "We're leaving here as BLS (Basic Life Support) providers so if someone is struggling to breathe or going into cardiac arrest, we can help with all of that."

The graduation ceremony was livestreamed on the State Fire Marshal's Facebook page and is available here.

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About the Division of State Fire Marshal

The Division of State Fire Marshal is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The department is Ohio's chief regulatory agency, focused on promoting prosperity and protecting what matters most to Ohioans. We ensure businesses follow the laws that help them create jobs and keep Ohioans safe. To learn more about what we do, visit our website at com.ohio.gov.