As budgets get tighter while 911 calls grow, firefighters are increasingly being put on the front lines as emergency medical first responders.

The Covington Fire Department has been working to get all of its firefighters EMT (emergency medical technician) certified, and 25 firefighters were recently honored for accomplishing that task.

They are: Robert Canady, Wes Daniel, Eric Wood, Matt Bruno, David Fielding, Matt Isom, Josh Johnson, Don Campbell, Bryan Jackson, Joel Edwards, Danny Garner, Shane Strickland, Tim Martin, Evan McAvoy, Brad Smith, Brian Thompson, B.J. Knight, Donnie Tudor, Matt Davis, Clay Boggs, Clint Culpepper, Mike Jones, Brian Moore, Randy Ross and Scott Sewell.