The sixteenth Roanoke County Volunteer Fire Academy consisting of 10 graduates from Roanoke County held a graduation ceremony this evening at the South County Library auditorium. Chief Stephen G. Simon—along with six volunteer district chiefs—called each volunteer to the stage where they were pinned with their official firefighter badge.
The individuals representing Roanoke County Fire & Rescue spent 20 weeks and 270 hours receiving instruction and practical training in the areas of basic firefighting skills including building construction, forcible entry, ventilation, search and rescue, CPR, basic emergency care, and hazardous material operations. The academy ended with a live burn at the Roanoke Valley Regional Fire & EMS Training Center. The eleven recruits have passed the state testing for their Firefighter Level 1 and 2 certifications and Hazardous Materials Operations certification.
The Roanoke County Volunteer Fire Academy is offered each year starting in late summer. The class is offered for all new Roanoke County fire volunteers who serve at one of the ten volunteer fire companies throughout the County. If space is available, volunteers from other localities are permitted to participate for a small fee. Anyone wanting more information about becoming a volunteer firefighter with Roanoke County may call Jennifer Conley Sexton at 777-8706.
Fire Academy #16 Graduates
Jennifer Bolton Cave Spring
Zach Cooper Back Creek
Joshua David Cave Spring
Alex Doyle Cave Spring
Kayla Jones Hollins
Michael Koloda Cave Spring
Daniel Lynch Cave Spring
Emil Neyhart Cave Spring
Kaung Oo Back Creek
Austin Trent Cave Spring