Firefighters, EMTs sworn in at council

By Megan Pacer • January 11, 2018 10:19 am
Homer Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bob Painter hands certificates to the graduates of the department’s last two recruitment classes. The department gained six new graduates of firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and some who got cross trained in both fields, when they were sworn in at the Homer City Council meeting Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Homer Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bob Painter hands certificates to the graduates of the department’s last two recruitment classes. The department gained six new graduates of firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and some who got cross trained in both fields, when they were sworn in at the Homer City Council meeting Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

The Homer Volunteer Fire Department may be losing a chief in Bob Painter before the month is out, but it’s gaining several qualified emergency medical technicians and firefighters.

The graduates of the department’s last two recruit classes were sworn in during the Homer City Council’s meeting Monday at City Hall. Some had graduated from an EMT 1 class, others now have Firefighter 1 status, and some are cross trained in both.

Each one of them entered the department as recruit, Painter said at the ceremony, and they take extensive training program involving hundreds of hours of education and practice.

Those who passed the EMT 1 class include: Patrick Lane, Donna McNulty, Devon Kennelty, Naomi Scheffel, Aryn Young, Kristen Mrozowski, Shannon Reid and Jesus Trejo.

Those who now have Firefighter 1 status include: Donna McNulty, Jaclyn Lucas, and Courtney Moody.

The city has also made headway in regard to the transition when Painter leaves his post on Jan. 26. City Manager Katie Koester said at the meeting that Emergency Services Specialist Tim Yarbrough will fill in as acting chief while Assistant Chief Terry Kadel is out for a scheduled surgery. When Kadel returns, he will remain interim chief for six months, she said.

Reach Megan Pacer at megan.pacer@homernews.com.