Certified firefighters at Meridian Community College include, front row, from left: Chris Cutway, Howard Maheu, Trey Joiner, Terry Flannigan and Rob Eason. Back row: Justin Mixon, Kasey McWhirter, Sean Shelton, Tim Fisher, James Holland, Adam Talbert and Jonathan Mowery. 

Twelve firefighter students became official Mississippi Certified Volunteer Firefighters Thursday at the Lauderdale County Volunteer Firefighter graduation held at Meridian Community College-Riley Workforce Development Center. The Mississippi Volunteer Fire Fighter-I course is an 88-hour course that begins with the history of the Lauderdale County fire service and concludes with fire cause determination. The students were responsible for learning and perfecting 82 skills that range from donning the personal protective ensemble to entering and suppressing interior structure fires.