After nine years of dedicated service to the Eupora Fire Department, Fire Chief Mitch Jackson moves on.
Jackson started his career as a volunteer firefighter for Cumberland Volunteer Fire Department at a young age following in his father’s footsteps, current and longtime Cumberland VFD Fire Chief Bobby Jackson. He served as a firefighter and training officer for Cumberland VFD and firefighter for Clarkson VFD until moving to Eupora to work as a patrolman for the Eupora Police Department.
Jackson again answered the call to serve as a firefighter for the city of Eupora. He quickly rose through the ranks from firefighter, training officer, assistant chief and to fire chief.
As EFD’s chief, Jackson made improvements and advancements in apparatuses, equipment, communications and personnel. He helped secure grants for EFD’s newest fire truck and new gear to better protect our firefighters. He also added a specially dedicated brush truck, better communications using app-based dispatching and new digital radios.
Honored to Serve
“It has been an honor serving the city of Eupora for the past nine years and as your fire chief for the past four years. I’ve been truly blessed to have served alongside some of the most amazingly dedicated, caring and hardworking men and women I’ve ever known,” Jackson said.
”Without the support of my EFD family and city leaders, a lot of the things that EFD has accomplished couldn’t have been done. With the skills you’ve afforded me I’ll be much better primed to excel as I move into this next phase of my life. But most importantly, thank you to the citizens of Eupora for standing behind and supporting EFD and me like you have. It truly means the world to me and each of the men and women that proudly serve.”
Jackson will continue to serve the city of Eupora as a reserve EFD firefighter and as a part-time officer for Eupora PD at the rank of corporal.
Bierdeman New Chief
As Jackson steps down, city leaders voted unanimously Oct. 7 at its regular stated meeting to promote and hire Firefighter and Training Officer Tyler Bierdeman as EFD’s new chief at Jackson’s recommendation.
Bierdeman currently works full time for Eupora PD at the rank of corporal.
Bierdeman started his fire service career in 2009 as a firefighter for Mathiston Fire Department. He continued his advancement as a full-time firefighter for the Grenada Fire Department, and attended and completed the Mississippi State Fire Academy in 2012. He served five years as a full-time certified firefighter for the Grenada Fire Department before being hired at Eupora PD and becomes Eupora Fire’s first full-time certified fire chief.
“I consider it an honor and a privilege to continue my service to the city of Eupora as your Fire Chief. I deeply appreciate our Board of Aldermen and Mayor (Lamar) Dumas for the trust you have instilled in me, (and) my EFD family for standing behind and supporting me,” Bierdeman said.
“I’ll continue to build upon the solid foundation that makes up the Eupora Fire Department as we make this next step together into the future ahead of us — always for the betterment of the people we serve.”
