Kingfisher Fire Chief Tony Stewart recently swore in six new firefighters who completed their mandatory one year probationary period.

They include Blaise Withrow, Dawson Williams, Jonathan Willman, Justin Houck, Kelby Benda and Tyler Girard.

Benda, Houck and Willman were hired through a Federal Emergency Management Agency Safety Grant, which provides federal funding for 75% of their salaries for the first two years and 35% for the third year, Stewart said.

All six men are certified as advanced EMTs with Firefighter 1 certification.

Withrow and Benda are continuing their training to become certified as paramedics, along with KFD veteran Lt. Cliff Crow, Stewart said.

“All of these men make a fine addition to our department and are happy to be a part of the community,” Stewart said.

Blaise Withrow

Withrow, a Union City native, earned his basic EMT training at OSU-OKC and advanced training at Moore-Norman Technology Center.

He’s received specialized training in ropes, vehicle extrication and hazmat operations.

Dawson Williams

A graduate of Piedmont High School, Williams attended the University of Central Oklahoma and then transferred to technology centers to complete EMT and firefighter training.

His specialized classes included hazmat awareness and operations and vehicle extrication.

Prior to joining KFD, Williams worked in pest control.

Jonathan Willman

Willman earned a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Baptist University in 2004 before receiving EMT and firefighter training from OSU-OKC and Moore-Norman Technology Center.

Prior to his employment at Kingfisher, he worked for the Oak Cliff Fire Department.

A Glencoe native, Willman currently lives in Edmond with his wife Melissa and their four children, Molly 12, Max 9, Maggie 7 and Mary 4.

Justin Houck

Houck is a graduate of Edmond Memorial High School who also attended UCO before deciding to pursue a firefighting career.

He previously worked for Deer Creek Fire Protection District and he and his wife live in Piedmont.

Houck also works a second job as a stonemason in Oklahoma City.

Kelby Benda

A Norman native, Benda is a 2017 graduate of Norman High School.

After completing his EMT Basic certification at OSU-OKC, he worked for an ambulance service in Sulphur while completing his Advanced EMT training at Moore-Norman Technology Center.

Benda completed his Firefighter 1 training since joining the Kingfisher department and is expected to complete paramedic training in December.

Tyler Girard

Girard is a graduate of El Reno High School and Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center’s 25th Fire Academy.

An El Reno resident, Girard worked for his father at Baker Sign and Shirt in El Reno before joining the fire department.