Jeremiah Oneal is the 2025 Warren County Firefighter of the Year

WARREN COUNTY, Miss. (VDN) — The Warren County Fire Service held its annual banquet last night at Goldie’s and named Jeremiah Oneal its 2025 Firefighter of the Year.

The twenty-year-old Oneal has only been a firefighter for two years. According to Chief Chris Kennedy, Oneal was “A shy and quiet kid hesitant on doing fireground tasks, but has since become a confident, aggressive firefighter.”

Oneal was humble in his win, thanking others for his success. “Marquise Holmes gave me an application to be a firefighter, and here I am. But I didn’t expect this at all. I was surprised when they called my name.”

Chief Kennedy said of Oneal, “He makes himself available for emergencies as often as possible, attends all the training sessions even if it’s repeated. He asks questions and soaks in as much knowledge as possible. He participates in non-emergency events just as much.” Kennedy continued, “When the county EMT Class filled up, he made arrangements to take the class on his own, not only passing the class, but passing as the Valedictorian of his class. Jeremiah is young, intelligent, and excited about helping his neighbors.”

The Warren County Fire Service responded to 1120 calls for service in 2025. Those can be anything from an automobile accident to helping lift someone out of a chair to a structure fire. A dedicated group of your fellow citizens gives their time to help their neighbor.

“Firefighting is my career now, it’s basically all I do,” said Oneal.