August 8, 2025, Press Release from 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 0021 earlier today at a ceremony that took place on SFM’s campus in Reynoldsburg.
The 22 graduates represent communities throughout Ohio, as well as Indiana and Minnesota. 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.
This is the third EMT class to graduate from the Ohio Fire Academy this year, bringing the total number of EMT graduates in 2025 to 56.
“These graduates should be proud of what they have accomplished during their time here at the Ohio Fire Academy,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “Through their coursework and hands-on training, they have gained the skills and knowledge needed to respond to emergency situations as they return to their communities.”
Graduate Alexis Leith, of Pleasantville, Ohio, said the instructors and her classmates helped her through the challenging six-week course.
“Going into this, I was a little nervous just because it is an accelerated program, but honestly, the community and relationships we built during the class, having that support from everybody really made it easy to work out problems,” Leith said. “The instructors were awesome, and if I was struggling with something, it was great to have everyone else there to fall back on.”
Leith is planning to return to the Ohio Fire Academy for its Firefighter I and II class.
After graduating from the EMT class today, Lane Wisner will also be returning to the Ohio Fire Academy for an upcoming Firefighter I and II class.
“I’m actually coming right back here for firefighter classes. I loved it so much, I couldn’t get away,” he said. “This is a calling. The feeling you get when you are able to help people in their worst situations is just a great opportunity.”
After completing his Firefighter I and II class, Wisner plans to join his local fire department in Bellefontaine, Ohio.
These 22 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.
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.
