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MCP file photo
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
LUDINGTON — The Mason County Fire Academy will hold a graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 15 at Ludington Fire Department, 918 E. Tinkham Ave.
The commencement will celebrate nine firefighters from Mason County fire departments who have completed 260 hours of training from October 2023 to April, 23, 2024. The comprehensive curriculum covered essential firefighting skills, including fire suppression, vehicle extrication, hazardous materials, public education, building construction, and other critical areas.
The graduates include:
- Brock Boterenbrood, Hamlin Township Fire Department
- Lance Case, Ludington Fire Department
- Aralyn Donald, Fountain Area Fire Department
- Keaton Gajewski, Grant Township Fire Department
- Preston Kelley, Fountain Area Fire Department
- Jonathan Lambright, Riverton Fire Department
- Leo Lindbloom, Ludington Fire Department
- Zach Parker, Free Soil/Meade Fire Department
- Xander Selders, Free Soil/Meade Fire Department
“These nine new firefighters have invested many hours, training hard day and night to protect their communities,” said Dominic Hasbrouck, Mason County Fire Academy course manager. “They have earned their place as firefighters and I am glad to see them out on the streets, responding to calls.”
The graduation ceremony will honor the achievements of these new firefighters and mark the beginning of their careers as first responders. The event is open to the public.
The Mason County Fire Academy is funded by the Mason County Firefighter Training Committee and the Michigan Fire Fighter Training Division. The local academy provides comprehensive training to new Mason County fire department recruits, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to be state-certified firefighters.
There are 11 fire departments in Mason County, all staffed by paid-per-call firefighters and medical first responders. Fire departments in Mason County are financial funded through property taxes and donations/fundraisers.
Property owners in Hamlin Township, Pere Marquette Township and the City of Ludington fund fire departments through each municipality’s general fund and through the Western Mason County Fire District, which funds the equipment used by each of those departments.
Property owners in Amber Township, Branch Township, Custer Township, Eden Township, Free Soil Township, Grant Township, Meade Township, Sherman Township, Sheridan Township, Summit Township, Victory Township and the City of Scottville, fund the Mason County Rural Fire Authority, which oversees all operations of the fire departments within those municipalities.
Property owners in Logan Township fund the Carr Area Fire Department.
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