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 celebrates its second EMT graduating class of 2025. A graduation ceremony took place earlier today on SFM's campus in Reynoldsburg, honoring 15 graduates.

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.

This class of graduates represents communities throughout Ohio. A complete list of graduates and their hometowns is available here.

"We're incredibly proud to celebrate the hard work and dedication of this outstanding graduating class," said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. "They've gained the skills and knowledge needed to respond in critical moments, and their commitment to public safety will help make a difference in communities across Ohio."

Graduate Chris Wade, who is also a graduate of the Ohio Fire Academy's Firefighter class, will now be returning to his fire department in Lima, where he will use skills learned at the Academy to help serve his community.

"Overall, this has been a great experience," Wade said. "I came in not really knowing a whole lot about EMS, but they have great instructors here. They really took the time to break things down for us and make concepts easier for us to understand. Because of that, I feel a lot more confident going forward."

After graduating on Friday, Kenneth Filipiak, of Mentor, is now looking to join a department.

"This was the most difficult course I have done," Filipiak said. "The small things make the biggest difference in people's lives and I think it's important that they push us to be our best, and they have."

These 15 graduates will now join the ranks of first responders in their communities, equipped with the qualifications they need to help protect Ohioans.

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.