TIFTON — The Tifton Fire Department welcomed some of their best to new ranks–as well as plenty of new recruits to their team–during the most recent city council meeting.

City council members congratulated firefighters old and new Dec. 11 as they took part in their pinning ceremonies, bestowing on them a well-earned promotion or their new position among the ranks of Tifton’s first responders.

Fire Chief Bobby Bennett was proud to honor Tommy Garren, Joe Perry, Addison Walls, and James Jackson as they took on their new roles with Tifton’s Fire Department.

Garren, who has served for 23 years, was promoted to Operations Chief on account of his skill, work ethic, and dependability. The 22-year firefighter Perry, whom Bennett admired for his leadership skills, was given the chance to put them to work as Battalion Chief, while the fire chief was confident Walls would rise to the challenge of Lieutenant work as he had in his twelve years with the fire department.

And Bennett had plenty to praise about Jackson, who, in his five years working for Tifton’s fire department, had displayed enough dedication to the service that he was willing to drive nearly five hours one way between shifts just to keep doing his part. He was proud to honor him, along with the other first responders, in his promotion to Engineer.

The wives of the four men were invited up to place the ceremonial pins on the men of the hour, and they were all recognized for their hard work by the members of the city council.

Afterward, Lieutenant Kiefer Daughtry came before the council to welcome the newest firefighters to the force.

Daughtry had the pleasure of introducing the nine newest faces of the Tifton Fire Department, seven of whom were brand new to fire service.

Like with their superiors, Carly Vanderford, Victor Salinas, Anthony Golden, Jaylen Williams, Blayne Gray, Kyndal Gordon, Gabriel Tinajero, Ryan Hicks, and Corey Moore were given a pin to commemorate their induction into the city fire department, though the ones pinning them on the fledgling firefighters were a bit different.

Where Hicks and Williams were pinned by Bennett and Vanderford was pinned by Jordan Gant, Gordon, Salinas, and Tinajero received their pins from their parents, Gray from his wife and daughter, Gold from his girlfriend, and Moore from his sister.

Once they had been pinned, the thirteen firefighters were given a full congratulations by the members of the city council, thanking them for their service and encouraging them to keep up the good work.