Local grads finish Fire Academy EMT training

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal's Ohio Fire Academy celebrated the graduation of its EMT class — which includes two area individuals — at a ceremony held Friday at SFM's campus in Reynoldsburg. In all, the 26 graduates represent communities throughout Ohio and Indiana, and 14 of them previously graduated from the Academy's Firefighter I & II class last fall. Local members include Evan Barth, Findlay; and Martin Jones, Forest. These graduates successfully completed the Academy's seven-week, 166-hour training program, showcasing dedication and determination to join the ranks of Ohio's firefighters and EMTs. This marks the Ohio Fire Academy's first graduating class of 2026. Last year, a total of 82 individuals graduated from four EMT classes held at the academy. "These graduates have demonstrated remarkable commitment and resilience throughout this class," said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. "Their dedication to serving others, often in their most challenging moments, embodies the very best of our fire and EMS communities. This group should be proud of what they have accomplished." Barth is one of the returning students who recently graduated from the Firefighter I & II class last fall. "I took a lot of valuable lessons from this class," he said. "The standard of professionalism, the way to conduct yourself, the proper methodology for how to handle anything. They really prepare you for any kind of scenario you're going to see on the streets." The graduation ceremony was livestreamed on the State Fire Marshal's Facebook page.