Mackinac County Firefighter Academy Enrolls 16 Trainees

Sixteen residents are now participating in this year's Mackinac County Firefighter Academy. Certification classes began in early January and will run through May.

Once they compete the academy, each person will be certified in level one and level two basic training requirements, which includes education on hazardous materials, driver's training, and extracting people from vehicles. The group, which attends classes one to three times a week, will take a final examination at the end of June.

Bryce Tracy, 9-1-1 coordinator for Mackinac County and a captain and training officer for the St. Ignace Fire Department, is coordinating the certification program.

Enrolled in the academy are:

St. Ignace - Eric Dodson, Ryan Bomberger, Johnathan Bosley;

Mackinac Island - Josh Taylor, Travis Vartainian, Rick Linn, Steve Zacharias;

Rudyard Township - Jody Landini;

Whitefish Township (Paradise) - Stephanie Ostafin, Kevin Miller, Ryan Gazley; John Clark, Eric McMiller;

Kinross Township (Kincheloe) - Brian Benzel, Tom Bontrager;

Bruce Township - Tylor Garlinghouse.