Seven new Columbus Fire Department firefighters were sworn in by Mayor Mary Ferdon during Tuesday’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting at City Hall. The firefighters will fill a portion of current vacancies that followed recent retirements and resignations.
The new firefighters are:
Brandon Farr, 25, a 2017 graduate of South Decatur High School. Farr was part of the Letts Volunteer Fire Department cadet program from 2016 to 2017. Farr has obtained the following certifications: firefighter I and II, hazardous materials awareness and operations, technical rescue awareness and numerous National Incident Management System (NIMS) certifications.
Trae Haley, 21, a 2021 graduate of Columbus North High School who attended courses at Franklin College. Haley has more than two years of firefighting experience with the German Township Volunteer Fire Department and one year of experience with the Harrison Township Fire Department. In additional to being a nationally registered emergency medical technician (EMT), Haley has firefighter I and II certifications.
Tristian Hanna, 25, a 2017 graduate of North Decatur High School. Hanna is a member of the Indiana Army National Guard since 2015 where he is a firefighter. He has served in volunteer and career fire department organizations in southern Indiana, including the Metamora Volunteer Fire Department, Versailles Volunteer Fire Department, Georgetown Township Fire Protection District and the New Washington Fire & EMS Department. He is a certified EMT and has these certifications: firefighter I and II, hazardous materials awareness and operations and aircraft rescue and fire fighting.
George Hilderbrand III, 31, a 2011 graduate of the Jacksonville (Florida) Christian Academy. Hilderbrand has served in volunteer and career firefighter capacities with several agencies, including two years with Clay Township Fire and Rescue Volunteer, four years with Macclenney (Florida) Fire and Rescue, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue for four years and Harrison Township (Indiana) Fire Department for one year. He is an EMT and has these certifications: firefighter I and II, hazardous materials technician, confined space rescue technician and aircraft rescue and fire fighting.
Wesley Thayer, 35, is a 2006 graduate of Jennings County High School and hold an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Harrison College. Prior to his appointment with the Columbus Fire Department, Thayer served 11 years as a law enforcement officer with the North Vernon Police Department and the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, where he served as a patrol officer, detective and school resource officer. Thayer has also served two years with the Geneva Township Fire Department in Jennings County. Thayer holds firefighter I and II and CPR certifications and has obtained numerous NIMS certifications.
Dalton Thompson, 31, is a 2011 graduate of Columbus East High School. He has served as a career firefighter with Columbus Township Fire and Rescue for one year. In addition to firefighter I and II certifications, Thompson’s certifications include hazardous materials awareness and operations, technical rescue awareness and rope rescue technician.
Cameron Ziegler, 23, is a 2019 graduate of Columbus North High School. Ziegler’s training includes certifications in hazardous materials awareness and operations.
All firefighters will undergo a department orientation and training program. Firefighters not previously certified will obtain a basic emergency medical technician certification, firefighter I & II certification and hazardous materials operations and awareness certification. At the completion of all training requirements, each firefighter will receive a station and shift assignments.
