Columbus welcomes new class of firefighters

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — The Columbus Fire & EMS Department celebrated the graduation of its 2025 cadet class today at the Columbus Trade Center. 

Family, friends, and department leadership gathered to honor 36 graduates who completed an intensive training program, which included Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Hazmat Awareness, and Hazmat Operations.

Deputy Chief of Operations Daniel S. Macon reminded graduates that their journey doesn’t end with graduation. 

“You continue to grow in your craft,” Macon said. “You continue to learn new training ways, new techniques, always staying on the forefront of technology and continuing to grow to be the best that you can be.”

Two awards were given at the ceremony — Myron Tomlinson won Highest Overall GPA, and Tucker Kinsaul won Most Distinguished.

Tucker Kinsaul credited his family for supporting him. He shared advice for future cadets: “It doesn’t matter what happened the day before. There’s a lot of stuff that’s going to happen. You’re going to mess up a lot of times, but it’s okay. You just come back the next day and be the best you can be.”