2 Sumter fire recruits graduate from S.C. Fire Academy

Fourteen fire recruits completed more than 300 hours of training to earn their uniform as firefighters, and that includes two in Sumter.

On Friday, Dec. 6, South Carolina Fire Academy celebrated 14 recruits from 10 fire departments throughout the state completing 320 hours of training, which included classroom and hands-on firefighting skills development. Of those 14, two hail from Sumter Fire Department.

David Meyer and Ryan Rosenmeier completed the comprehensive training that includes emergency fire responder first aid training, hazardous materials operations training, auto extrication, flammable liquids and gas firefighting, rescue training and National Fire Protection Association Firefighter I and Firefighter II levels.

"Today, we celebrate graduation and welcome these new members to the South Carolina fire service," State Fire Academy Superintendent Jason Pope said. "The past eight weeks have been a challenging program requiring commitment, passion and dedication. These recruits have worked together as a team, performed extensive hands-on training with live fires and passed intensive practical skills evaluations and written tests to meet the National Fire Protection Association standards."

The Fire Academy provides emergency services training to the city fire service - both paid and volunteer, from airport fire and rescue departments, industrial fire brigades and emergency teams to service organizations including EMS, law enforcement and military both state- and nationwide.

"From this day on, these new firefighters will be dedicating their lives to serving their communities and the state," Pope said. "All of us at State Fire are proud of their accomplishments. I also want to commend the dedicated Fire Academy instructors who brought the recruits through these weeks of instruction leading to graduation."