A new batch of EMTs recently joined South Whidbey Fire/EMS.

Last month, the fire department welcomed Gabrielle Renville, Suzanne Reynolds, Nicole Helseth, Nicole Hagen and Clay O’Brien.

The EMTs completed 16 weeks of study, training and testing, with a mix of online and in-person instruction.

“Even in the best of circumstances, the EMT academy is an intense experience,” Deputy Chief Wendy Moffatt, who is in charge of training, said in a press release.

“We tend to cover a lot of ground quickly. Given the pandemic, it was even more daunting this year.”

Moffatt added that she was proud of this year’s group of recruits.

The next South Whidbey Fire/EMS fire academy begins this month.

The new EMTs have already responded to emergency calls.

They will continue to attend weekly drills and frequent trainings.

The fire department responds to an average of 2,600 calls every year.