Posted Friday, January 5, 2024

HFD Reaches Full Staffing with Two New Hires

Brock Billings and Jarret Gray were sworn into duty with the Huntington Fire Department on Friday, January 5, 2024. Pictured from left to right: Assistant Chief Wayne Huff, Chief Tony Johnson, Brock Billings, Jarret Gray, Fire Marshall Dave Teusch and Mayor Richard Strick.

HUNTINGTON – With the addition of two firefighters sworn into duty on Friday morning, the Huntington Fire Department’s staffing level will reach its new threshold of 38 firefighters.

Jarret Gray and Brock Billings took their oaths of office during a ceremony in Council Chambers at the Huntington City Building. Bringing both on board helps fulfill a plan announced late in 2021 to add three new firefighting positions to the city force.

“I would like to thank Mayor Strick and City Council for supporting public safety and allowing us to fill these new positions,” Fire Chief Tony Johnson said.

The hiring process for both new firefighters started in April 2023. According to Chief Johnson, the process is slow by design because firefighting is not like any other job.

“Firefighting is a special calling,” he told the pair during Friday’s ceremony. “Firefighters must possess a passion to serve others. We take an oath to protect the lives and property of the people that we serve. You will learn that successful firefighting requires strong teamwork, and becoming part of that team will start today.

Next, Jarret and Brock will complete training at the Ft. Wayne Fire Department’s Fire Academy. They are expected to begin a 22-week course this May.

Jarret is a graduate of Huntington North High School and earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Huntington University. He was accompanied at Friday’s ceremony by his wife, Kalee, and his parents, Nick and Kelly Gray. Kalee also is involved in the Huntington community as a third-grade teacher at Salamonie Elementary.

Brock graduated from Homestead High School in Allen County. His wife, Bridget, joined him for Friday’s swearing-in along with Brock’s parents, Mick and Heather Billings, and his grandparents, Jack and Connie Billings. Brock and Bridget are looking forward to the birth of their first child this June.