Family, friends and colleagues from emergency units across Baltimore County gathered in Loch Raven High School's auditorium to witness the graduation of 26 recruits of the 98th Recruit Class of the Baltimore County Fire-Rescue Academy on Wednesday

The class consists of those who have trained as emergency medical technicians and they will be assigned to the county's 31 advanced life support medic units.

The class shared the stage with several distinguished guests, including county executive Jim Smith and fire chief John J. Hohman, who addressed the class.