Fulton County Ohio Media

In front of family, friends, colleagues, the Swanton Village Council and Swanton Fire Chief Ed Dziengelewski, firefighter Culyer Kepling was sworn in to the rank of Lieutenant by Mayor Neil Toeppe.

Lieutenant Kepling started his career in the Fire Service 10 years ago at a small volunteer department in Wood County down by the Bowling Green area.  In September of 2013 he joined the Swanton Fire and Rescue (SFRD) and served until June of 2016 as a part-time firefighter. In April of 2021, Kepling returned to the SFRD in the full-time capacity.  He has a combined service time of just about five years with the SFRD.

During Kepling’s brief time away from the SFRD, he continued to be active in the Fire Service with the City of Napoleon and Delta Fire Department both of which he still remains an active member.  Kepling recently graduated paramedic school from Owens Community College and is set to complete his certification process in about three weeks.

Currently, Kepling holds a Firefighter II, Advanced-EMT, Fire & EMS Instructor, Bluecard Command and several other specialty certifications.  He plans on returning to Owens Community College for the Spring semester to complete his degree in Emergency Services Technology.

Pictured:  Kaitlyn Kepling, Culyer’s wife, pins the Lieutenant Badge on his lapel.