Six new Columbus firefighters were sworn in by Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop at Tuesday’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting at Columbus City Hall. The firefighters fills vacancies left by recent retirements and lateral fire agency transfers and brings the department to full staffing of 95 sworn firefighters.
New to the Columbus Fire Department are:
Wyatt Barkes, Columbus, a 2016 graduate of Columbus North High School and a 2020 graduate of Western Governors University with a bachelor’s degree in business. Barkes is a member of Columbus Township Fire and Rescue and had been employed as an emergency medical technician with Columbus Regional Health Ambulance Service since 2021. In addition to an EMT certification, Barkes is certified as a rope rescue technician, swift water rescue technician and firefighter I & II.
Christopher Moon, Elizabethtown, is a 2011 graduate of Columbus East High School. Moon is member of the Elizabethtown Volunteer Fire Department and is employed part-time at Columbus Township Fire and Rescue. Moon is an EMT and Firefighter I & II certified.
Daniel Pennington, St. Paul, is a 2008 graduate of Shelbyville High School and a 2012 graduate of Lincoln College of Technology with an associate’s degree in diesel management. Pennington previously served in the United States Army’s 1st Cavalry and was deployed to Iraq from 2009 to 2010. Pennington served in the US Army Reserves from 2011 to 2014. Pennington served as a volunteer firefighter for the St. Paul Fire Department for five years. Pennington also has experience with Decatur County EMS, Edinburgh Fire Department and Franciscan EMS Shelbyville. Pennington is an EMT and firefighter I & II certified and he is currently enrolled in a paramedic licensure program through Franciscan Health.
Mitchel Tuttle, Columbus, is a 2009 graduate of Greensburg High School. Tuttle studied criminal justice at Anderson University. Tuttle served more than seven years as a police officer with the Greensburg Police Department. Tuttle spent three years of his law enforcement career as a K9 Handler.
Patrick Volland, Columbus, is a 2013 graduate of Columbus East High School. Volland is a member of the Southwest Volunteer Fire Department and works part-time for Columbus Township Fire and Rescue. Volland is firefighter I certified.
Nickolas Zickler, Greenwood, is a 2019 graduate of New Palestine High School and a 2022 graduate of Ivy Tech Community College with an associate’s degree in fire science. Zickler currently works for the Harrison Township Fire Department and works part-time for the Whiteland Fire Department. Zickler is a nationally registered EMT and is firefighter I & II certified.
All firefighters will undergo a department orientation training program. Firefighter Tuttle will be enrolled in a Firefighter I & II course as well as an EMT course. Firefighter Volland will enroll in a Firefighter II course. Both Tuttle and Volland will be required to obtain an EMT certification. At the completion of all training requirements, each firefighter will receive a station and shift assignment.
