Hattiesburg Firefighter Jazmine Carter Named 2026 Firefighter of the Year

Carter's peers voted to honor her dedication and impact on the department and community.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:55am

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print featuring a firefighter's helmet repeated in a grid pattern, using bold neon colors and heavy black outlines to transform the everyday object into a modern pop art piece.The Hattiesburg Fire Department's annual Firefighter of the Year award celebrates the everyday dedication and positive impact of its first responders.Hattiesburg Today

Jazmine Carter, a firefighter with the Hattiesburg Fire Department in Mississippi, was surprised this week when she was named the department's 2026 Firefighter of the Year. The award, voted on by Carter's fellow firefighters, recognizes her outstanding dedication, professionalism, and positive impact both within the station and throughout the local community.

Why it matters

The Firefighter of the Year award is a prestigious honor that highlights not just standout moments of heroism, but also the everyday commitment and character of firefighters. Carter's recognition by her peers underscores her exemplary service and the high regard in which she is held within the Hattiesburg Fire Department.

The details

Carter was presented with the Firefighter of the Year award at Hattiesburg Fire Station 1 this week. The award is voted on annually by the firefighters themselves to recognize a colleague who embodies the department's values of dedication, professionalism, and community service. According to Hattiesburg Fire Chief Chris Carr, the award can honor specific heroic acts, but more often highlights firefighters who consistently demonstrate strong character and a positive attitude in their daily work.

  • Jazmine Carter was named the 2026 Hattiesburg Fire Department Firefighter of the Year this week.

The players

Jazmine Carter

A firefighter with the Hattiesburg Fire Department who was named the department's 2026 Firefighter of the Year, an award voted on by her peers to recognize her outstanding dedication and positive impact.

Chris Carr

The fire chief of the Hattiesburg Fire Department, who stated that the Firefighter of the Year award honors both specific heroic acts as well as firefighters who consistently demonstrate strong character and a positive attitude.

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What they’re saying

“I was completely shocked, unexpected. I thought to be a firefighter, I thought you had to do something spectacular, save a life or anything, but my peers saw otherwise. That hard work, dedication, doing the right thing.”

— Jazmine Carter, Firefighter

“What people are looking for is just things that stand out. It may be a specific call, it may be a specific act. And then overall, it could just be your everyday demeanor and how you present yourself each day. And I think Jazmine embodies that.”

— Chris Carr, Fire Chief

What’s next

The Hattiesburg Fire Department will formally recognize Jazmine Carter's achievement at an upcoming awards ceremony later this month.

The takeaway

Jazmine Carter's recognition as the Hattiesburg Fire Department's Firefighter of the Year, as voted by her peers, highlights the importance of not just heroic acts, but also the everyday dedication, professionalism, and positive attitude that firefighters bring to their critical role serving the community.