March 20, 2026, Press Release from the Office of the Ohio State Fire Marshal:
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 0023 earlier today at a ceremony held at SFM’s campus in Reynoldsburg.
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. A complete list of graduates and their hometowns is available here.
These graduates successfully completed the Academy’s rigorous 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.”
Evan Barth, of Findlay, Ohio, 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,” Barth 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.”
Daniel Lombardo, of Lima, Ohio, joined Barth in graduating from the EMT class today after successfully graduating from the Firefighter I & II class last year. With both classes under his belt, Lombardo said he’s ready to get to work.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it,” he said. “This career is very rewarding and this place does a really good job of preparing you for what comes next. Everybody around here is very professional and does their job well.”
These 26 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. Photos of the ceremony are attached.
