The Mississippi State Fire Academy, in partnership with ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, unveiled a new CO2 pipeline training prop Thursday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Jackson.
Mississippi Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney joined the academy’s executive director, Kelly Elliot, to cut the ribbon, alongside state lawmakers and officials with ExxonMobil.
The prop was made possible through a $50,000 Good Neighbor grant and equipment donation from ExxonMobil. Academy leaders say the prop will give firefighters and emergency responders across Mississippi hands-on, scenario-based training for CO2 pipeline emergencies.
“This prop will play a critical role in advancing the safety and preparedness of first responders across the state,” Matt Ellis, instructor supervisor at the academy, said. “We are excited and appreciative to continue our partnership with ExxonMobil, bringing in new and innovative ways to better prepare and train first responders in our state.”
ExxonMobil CO2 Operations Manager Brian Carlin said the company’s goal is to make training widely accessible.
“At ExxonMobil, safety is our core value, and training is the foundation of safety,” Carlin said. “By bringing this training to the center of the state, we’re removing barriers and ensuring that every firefighter, whether serving in the Jackson metro area or a rural county in the Pine Belt or the Delta, has the same access to world-class training.”
Chaney emphasized the importance of preparation, noting that pipelines are a key part of the state’s infrastructure.
“This prop will give Mississippi’s firefighters and emergency personnel the hands-on training they need to respond quickly, effectively, and safely,” Chaney said.
Over the weekend, the academy hosted its first CO2 Pipeline Emergency Response training class. 40 participants from nine counties took part, learning about the properties of CO2 and applying their skills in a live demonstration with the new equipment.
Officials say the prop, located at the academy’s campus in central Mississippi, is intended to make specialized training more accessible statewide and strengthen the academy’s role as a national leader in fire service training and emergency response readiness.
