Montgomery's fire department added three full-time firefighters, the city announced in a press release Thursday, Oct. 8.

Peyton Whitson, Tyler Everly and Charles Graham join the Montgomery Fire Department with combined experience from the Reading, Springfield Township and Colerain Township fire departments. The hires come as the department continues building out its all-career roster under Fire Chief Ben Shapiro, who was promoted in April 2025.

No swearing-in date or start date for the three firefighters has been announced.

Whitson spent two years as a firefighter in his hometown of Reading before making the move to Montgomery. Off duty, he mows lawns for his elderly neighbors. He also enjoys detailing cars, swimming and working out.

Everly is a Montgomery native landing his first full-time firefighting job. He previously worked part-time with the Reading Fire Department and the Springfield Township Fire Department. His uncle served as a district chief for the City of Cincinnati fire service. Outside of work, Everly spends time with his fiancée and enjoys golfing and bowling.

Graham brings four years of firefighting and EMS experience from Colerain Township. Asked why he chose the profession, Graham offered a blunt answer: "Professional permission for destruction. Most jobs reprimand you for smashing through a door with an axe or driving a 40-ton vehicle through red lights. Firefighting is the only career where doing both comes with a nod of approval."

Graham and his wife, Maxine, have three children and were expecting a baby boy in October. He also coaches track and field for boys and girls.

The staffing additions follow a busy stretch of investment for the department. In September, the Montgomery Fire Department took delivery of a new Spartan NXT Quint 110-foot aerial ladder, replacing a 23-year-old unit, according to a separate city announcement. The truck combines the functions of a fire engine and aerial apparatus in a single vehicle.