The badge pinning ceremony for 22 members of the 29th Maui Fire Department Recruit Class was held Oct. 26 at Maui Tropical Plantation.

KAHULUI – Maui Fire Department Fire Chief Jeffrey Murray and State Airports Fire Chief Martinez Jacobs announced the graduation of 22 members of the 29th Maui Fire Department Recruit Class during a ceremony held Oct. 26 at Maui Tropical Plantation.

Eleven members of the recruit class were from the Maui County Fire Department and the other 11 were from the State Airports.

The Maui Fire Department firefighters are Robert Alexander, Kamaui Aiona, Michael Kalalau, Merrit Kaufman, Kanoa Nishiki, Tyler Pascual, Kai Evermore, Bronson Pocock, Kaleo Puaa, Brandon Sturm and Nicholas Tanaka.

The State Airport firefighters are Troy Demello, Ryan Dung, Evan Garces, Kurt Kahui, Pater Kaina IV, Jean Paul Karlen, Kealii Murray, Micah Palmerton, Tye Perdido, Cody Souza and Keoni Wong.

Awards were passed out to both groups of recruits. The award winners were, for the county: Academic – Kai Evermore, Skills – Michael Kalalau, Outstanding – Kamaui Aiona, and Ho’oulu – Bronson Pocock.

Recruits honored in the state class were: Academic – Troy Demello, Skills – Tye Perdido, Outstanding – Kurt Kahui and Leadership – Evan Garces.

In related news, Murray recently promoted four MFD members – Bram Denhaan, Lee Theros, Shawn Rogers and Geoffrey Bogar – to the rank of captain. Their promotions went into effect on Nov. 1.

Denhaan, a 19-year veteran, will be assigned to the “A” Watch at the Hoolehua Fire Station on Molokai. He is also a CPR/First Responder and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) instructor.

Theros, a 15-year veteran, will be assigned to the “B” Watch at the Kaunakakai Fire Station on Molokai.

Rogers, a 13-year veteran, will be assigned to the “B” Watch at the Hoolehua Fire Station.

And Bogar, an 18-year veteran, is awaiting his assignment.