Coshocton Fire Department welcomes four new probationary firefighters at swearing-in ceremony

Coshocton Fire Department recently hired four probationary firefighters. Rookie firefighters Brett Knepper, Dustin Patterson, Remington Graham and Troy Jones were sworn in at a ceremony attended by their family, friends and peers on Oct. 10 at Coshocton Fire Department’s Hale Station on Seventh Street.

"Welcome to Coshocton Fire Department," Fire Chief Rusty Dreher said. "This is your firehouse."

City Service Director Max Crown asked the new hires to stand and welcomed everyone to the ceremony. "This is an important job, and we hope you will make this a lifelong career,” he said.

The Firefighters Oath requires members of a fire department to swear allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Constitution of the State of Ohio and local laws of the city of Coshocton to faithfully fulfill all the responsibilities of their position without hesitation or mental reservation.

 Trainees will spend the first two weeks on 40 hours before going to their regular shifts.

Knepper started as a volunteer in 2013, working part-time until 2020 and going full-time in 2022. He joined the Coshocton Fire Department in April 2025.

"The average work week is 48-72 hours," he said. "We're on 24-hour shifts two or three days a week unless there is overtime to pick up. We can sleep at night if there are no calls and everything is done for the day. On a typical day, we come in the morning, get a report from the previous shift to see if there is anything new or anything happened, we check our trucks, have some training in the morning, do house chores, then lunch, more training and finish our chores. It all depends on when we get a call."

Knepper said they work 24-hour shifts with 72 hours off.

"The requirement to be a firefighter is a little over a 240-hour class time to meet state requirements," he said. "Here at Coshocton Fire, you are also required to have a HAZMAT technician, which means additional schooling. If we have a fire on off time, we can come in and help the shift that's on."

Knepper is a Swift Water Rescue 1, a specialized technique aimed at rescuing people in fast-moving water environments, and also is being rope certified.

Patterson, son of Christine and Duane Patterson, graduated from Ridgewood High School in 2009. He started farming at 16 years old and in 2013 attended the Newton Township Fire Fighter program. His career began in West Lafayette as a volunteer for 12 years. 

"I already had my 240 going in as a volunteer," Patterson said. "You get a 36-hour card, one 20-hour card and 240. The 240 training is your highest fire card, and I have had my 240-hour certification ever since I started in West Lafayette. I also have my HAZMAT technician.

"This is something I have always wanted to do. I started as a volunteer, and then the opportunity came for full-time, and so this is where I'm at. I have the 240 hours, and your card is renewed every three years. You need to keep up with the training, have knowledge about the trucks and what you need to do on a typical day, check all of your gear, your truck, and make sure everything is good to go. There are always chores to do around the firehouse."

Graham is the son of Daniel and Jennifer Graham. He graduated high school in 2025 and completed professional firefighter training. He is thankful for the opportunity to serve the Coshocton community.

"I definitely want to make a career out of it," Graham said. "I like everybody here, and I have lived in Coshocton County all of my life, and it's local. It is really cool to have the opportunity to serve my community in such a way. This is where I want to be.

"During my senior year of high school, I went to CTEC in Newark and did Firefighter II, the professional firefighter program there, and also got my EMT Basic through CTEC as well. I want to be a part of something that makes me feel good as well as being part of a team and to be able to serve the people that have done so much for me."

Jones was raised in West Lafayette and graduated from Ridgewood High School in 2010. He went on to attend Muskingum University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Geology in 2015.

After graduation Jones worked as a wellsite geologist in Oklahoma before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 2016. In 2020 he graduated from Officer Candidate School as a distinguished honor graduate and was commissioned as an infantry officer. With over nine years of active duty service, Jones will begin work on Oct. 28 from Tuesday through Friday until he goes to the academy from February until April in Reynoldsburg.

"It is a 10-week program," he said. "I just left active duty in the Army — nine years in the infantry — and switched to the reserves as a captain. My wife and I were both active duty, both originally from Coshocton. She went to River View, and I went to Ridgewood.

"I don't have a fire background, but I am looking forward to learning and being an asset to the team. A lot of my peers from the infantry switched over to being a fire fighter. They say it is a nice transition — being a member of the team, working together — and it's a great group of guys here. Chief Dreher is a great leader. He brings a lot of good experience to the table, as well as all of the employees here."

Jones currently resides in Coshocton with his wife of six years Kim and their two sons, who are 3 years old and 9 months old.

"Congratulations to our four new firefighters," Mayor Mark Mills said. "I always like to say, 'In public service and community service, we're not going to get rich, but we're going to help a hell of a lot of people,' so welcome to the family. Anything you guys need, the administration is here for you.

"We definitely are excited about the new journey that we have here in the Coshocton Fire Department. The service going above self says a lot about human beings. So no matter what the call is, the only call that I ever want is that you all return safely. I just want to say, 'God bless you. God bless your families. God bless our community and thank you for your service.'"