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Here's what they told us:

Col. Francis Thomas - Fire Chief
"Today marked end of the second step toward increasing the human resources for the Fire Service. This is intake one of 2012, and these guys have been trained in the basic fire-fighter drills. They've been taught how to handle the ladder, the hoses, how to use the pump, how to conduct search-and-rescue, and RTA in terms of vehicle accidents. They've been posted to different districts and stations within the country, so that we can have adequate numbers at the different stations. Right now, we have only 2 fire-fighters manning each one of these vehicles, as it is."

Adam Lumsden - Valedictorian, 2012 Fire-fighter Recruits
"I heard about the training and I sent in application form, but I wasn't called. You usually leave your number, and they call you to see if you're chosen. I wasn't called and another guy from Benque, he was called, and he told me about it. I was already disappointed, so I actually borrow Mr Longsworth, the Officer in Charge's, phone, and I called Mr Orin Smith, the training officer. And he told me to show up here at headquarters that Thursday morning, 8 o'clock, and maybe I would get lucky. So I was like - and if you hear him talk, he has a sarcastic kind of voice, so I was already worried. I wondered what would happen I went for the training, so I came, and everything turned out alright. I was accepted, and here I am today, the valedictorian."

Goldburn Martinez - Salutatorian, 2012 Fire-fighter Recruits
"It was intense, physically. We were mentally stressed out each and every day, challenging tests, exams and different stuff, but through endless preparations and studying, I've made it. I have one advice to everyone out there on the streets that they can do it as well because I am someone who came from the streets, and I changed my life at the end of the day. So I encourage each and everyone in the streets; don't think that just because you are an outcast or something like that, you can't be someone in society. From when I was a child, I had a passion to save lives, and a passion in protecting my community and my nation as well. As a patriot and a Belizean, I feel happy to serve my country."

Jason Campos - 3rd Best Student in Graduating Class
"It took a lot of effort, a lot of strength, and a lot of punishment. We went through a lot together as a team to accomplish what we did today. I feel proud to serve my community, and do something for my community."

Daniel Ortiz
"Tell us about your climb from the bottom to 4th place."

Baldwin Swith - 4th Place, Most Improved Student
"Wow, from the bottom to 4th place, when you are at the bottom, you already feel discourage. But like I said, the support that I got from my family and friends who are fire-fighters down in Corozal, they told me that it's not over until it's over, and to just stay focus on what I want. And that was what I did all the way through. I gave up 15 weeks of partying and so forth to reach where I am now."

Now that they have graduated, the 24 recruits will be posted at different stations across the country.