COLUMBUS, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal’s Ohio Fire Academy celebrated the graduation of its EMT class 0022 during a ceremony Friday in Reynoldsburg. The 24-member class, the final one of 2025, represents communities throughout Ohio as well as Indiana.
The graduates successfully completed the rigorous six-week, 166-hour training program, and will now join the ranks of first responders in their communities as qualified Basic Life Support (BLS) providers. This is the fourth EMT class to graduate from the academy this year, bringing the total number of EMT graduates in 2025 to 82.
Photos: Ohio Department of Commerce
“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.”
Gavin Ash of Orient, Ohio, a graduate who recently completed the academy’s Firefighter Class 241 in July, praised the program’s practical experience.
“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.”
The Ohio Fire Academy attracts students from neighboring states, including graduate Dylan Cole of Richmond, Ind.
“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, noting the graduates are now BLS providers. “If someone is struggling to breathe or going into cardiac arrest, we can help with all of that.”