Allen Pugh and Josh Gordon are arguably two of the busiest men in Warren County.

The duo mans one shift of the Vicksburg Fire Department’s rescue unit, responding along with firefighters and medics in the city and in rural areas of Warren County.

“As small of a crisis to as large of a crisis you can think of, rescue is going to get called for the most part,” Pugh said. “It’s the busiest truck in Vicksburg for sure.”

When crisis happens, Pugh and Gordon are ready to hop in the fire engine-red truck and help. They’ve rescued motorists stranded in high water, stopped suicide attempts, cut crash victims out of cars and saved countless lives. It’s a job that never gets boring, Pugh said.

“We run for every ambulance outside the city. Inside the city they’ve gotten to where the engines run with them. You can still run easily 10 to 15 calls per day. We’ve been dispatched out to as many as 20 or 25. You can make a full day of it,” Pugh said.

Their long list of responsibilities comes with a list of certifications almost a mile long — confined space rescue, hazmat operations, rope rescue, diving, open water rescue, and the list goes on. Hours can also be long too, since Vicksburg firefighters work 24-hour shifts and calls can come any time of day or night.

“You never know,” Gordon said.

Both are Warren County natives who still have family members who live in the county. Often they help rescue or assist people they know, even friends and family members.

“You would be surprised how many people when you walk in the house say “I know you!’” Gordon said.

Having a local connection helps create a more dedicated level of service for firefighters, Gordon said.

“We take more pride in it because it’s our hometown. If you brought somebody in from wherever, they’re not going to look at it the same,” Gordon said.

Gordon has been on the fire department for about two and a half years after completing his baseball career at Delta State University.

“I had been talking to a few people who had been trying to get me to come, but I was still in school playing ball. Finally I made the decision I was going to give it a shot. It’s good at times. It can be rough when you’re up all night,” Gordon said.

Pugh joined the department more than three years ago after being discharged from the military. He wanted to continue his service but “needed a good job with good benefits.”

“Where else nowadays can you retire by 55? At 55, you’ve still got a lot of life left” Pugh said.