Kingfisher Fire Department doubled its number of licensed paramedics after four crew members recently completed the rigorous training and licensing requirements.

Cliff Crow, Blaise Withrow, Taylor Farris and Kelby Benda passed their paramedic licensing exams in the last couple of weeks.

Paramedics are the highest level of emergency medical technician certification and represents an extra two years of training following EMT basic and EMT advanced training, Fire Chief Tony Stewart said.

“When our firefighters sign up to take the paramedic course, they are committing a lot for the next two years,” Stewart said.

“All four of these men were outstanding in their class and in their testing.”

Paramedics can perform more complex emergency medical procedures, such as inserting intravenous lines, intubation, administering medications, cardiac monitoring and applying external pacemakers to adjust heart rhythms.

Stewart said the decision to train as a paramedic is totally voluntary, but the city will pay for the cost of the training for firefighters who commit to at least three additional years of service to the Kingfisher department after their certification.

Cliff Crow

Cliff Crow has served nearly 12 years with the Kingfisher Fire Department, after working the same amount of for the Cashion Fire Department and ambulance service.

Crow has been a firefighter, EMS and CPR instructor for nearly 15 years. He was licensed as a tactical medic about six years ago and is currently completing an associate’s degree at Oklahoma State University in paramedicine and critical care paramedic.

Crow plans to continue his education to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

He lives in rural Kingfisher with his wife Suzanne, a 26-year teacher on the Gilmour Elementary faculty.

The Crows have three children, Jayden Flewallen, 23, a senior at the University of Central Oklahoma: Ryan, 18, a senior at Kingfisher High School and second-year nursing student, and Zac, 17, also a KHS senior, who recently started his own welding business.

Blaise Withrow

Blaise Withrow has been employed with KFD for two years.

Prior to that, he served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT at Union City Fire and Rescue.

He earned both his basic EMT and paramedic certification at OSU-OKC and his advanced EMT certification at Moore Norman Technology Center.

Withrow resides in Yukon and is engaged to Joeie Davis.

Taylor Farris

Taylor Farris joined the local fire department six months ago after working in the emergency room at Integris Community Hospital in Del City as an ER Tech.

Farris earned his Firefighter 1 and Hazmat Operations certifications at Eastern Oklahoma College while he was a senior in high school.

While completing the paramedic program at OSUOKC, Farris tested to get his advanced EMT certification. He also serves as a medic in the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

Farris and his wife Kaitlyn live in El Reno and have one son, Bradley, who just celebrated his first birthday.

Kelby Benda

Kelby Benda came to KFD two years ago from the Murray County EMS.

He earned his EMT basic certification from OSU-OKC, advanced EMT certification from Moore Norman Technology Center and then paremedic training from Oklahoma City Community College.

Benda lives in Kingfisher and is engaged to Lacey Wilczek.

“I can say wholeheartedly that these men can’t wait to use their skills and knowledge when it comes to a patient that requires them to do so,” Stewart said, adding that a paramedic may not be available on every ambulance call.

“I can’t say enough how these men dedicated themselves to this next step in their career to better themselves but even more importantly to provide better access to advanced care to our citizens,” Stewart said.

Other KFD crew members with paramedic certification include Richard Butts, Ryan Gibson, Justin King and Brandon Charteau.