By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News
Four of the newest volunteer firefighters in Pontiac have successfully passed the Dwight and Pontiac Volunteer Basic Operations Firefighter Academy.
Caleb Freese, Devon Johansen Jared Johnson and Ian Shoop graduated from the six month long fire academy July 8th, along with firefighters from Chenoa, Dwight and Odell.
Pontiac Fire Chief Scott Runyon described what the academy was like for these men.
“It took about six months to get them through it. It’s about 240 hours of training – minimum. There’s a lot of extra stuff that goes along with that, which is anywhere from book work to practical challenges they have to go through. They’ve all done a very good job and we’re happy to have them,” Runyon said.
As a result of their time at the academy, they are now certified through the Office of the State Fire Marshal of Illinois as a Basic Operations Firefighter, among other things.
