Bainbridge Island’s newest firefighters will graduate next week from the Washington State Patrol Fire Training Academy in North Bend.

Brian Wilkinson, Josh Pippinger, Forest Hieptas and Scott Hartley are part of the class of 41 firefighters who will graduate Friday, April 17 at the Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien.

The recruits started the 12-week recruit academy on Jan. 22. The recruits learned fire service principles through classroom instruction and rigorous hands-on live fire training. The course meets National Fire Protection Association 1001 Standard for Firefighter Professional Qualifications at the Firefighter I & II, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations Levels.

Other recruits in the class included new firefighters from Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue, Clark County Fire & Rescue, Eastside Fire & Rescue, the Kennewick Fire Department, the Walla Walla Fire Department and other departments.