Three new firefighters have received their badges after completing the fire academy in Brinnon.

Justin Matheson, Jennie Glasco, and Crystal Manly all began the three-month firefighter academy in April under the supervision of training officer Captain Gus Goller.

While they all graduated the academy in June, it wasn’t until Sept. 13 that they were officially awarded their black helmets and their families pinned on their badges.

All three have a long history of service to the community.

Crystal Manly, Brinnon Fire Chief Tim Manly’s wife, has already been working for the department in an EMT role, even helping to deliver a baby during a recent ambulance ride.

She’s also a teacher at the Quilcene School District and is starting her second year as a full time culinary arts teacher, Chief Manly said.

Matheson has also worked for two years as an EMT and has also been serving on the board as one of the fire commissioners.

“I wanted to be more involved in the fire department,” Matheson said of his reason for taking the next step to become a full firefighter/EMT.

“My father was a fire chief for 40 years,” he added.

Glasco is a wife and mother of four children as well as a breast cancer survivor. She lives on the county line, actually residing in Mason County, but has volunteered with Brinnon and been in the EMT program for three years.

All three are now certified under the Washington Administrative Code which means they meet the requirements to be structurally interior qualified, Manly said, meaning they have the knowledge, skills, and wherewith-all it takes to enter a burning building when necessary.