The family of fallen firefighter and EMT Derico Davis hosted a balloon release in celebration of his birthday, and in honor of his
service to the Vicksburg Fire Department (VFD) and the City of Vicksburg, Tuesday.

The balloon release took place at Davis’ gravesite on Pearl Street within the Cedar Hill Cemetery. Davis was killed at age 18, along with fellow Vicksburg firefighter, 26-year-old Jarod Squire, in a car wreck on Interstate 20 in October of 2023.

“He was hardworking and ambitious; he had a lot of goals,” VFD Capt. Reginald Galloway said in the days following Davis’ death. “He had just passed his paramedic exam and became a paramedic and had his sights set on him becoming a lieutenant, then probably going to nursing school. He just was very ambitious and just had that drive about him. He was smart, honest and charismatic. Anything you ask him to do, he’d do.”