Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney and Mississippi State Fire Academy Executive Director Kelly Elliott cut the ribbon to unveil the CO₂ pipeline training prop. Pictured from left to right: Rep. Fabian Nelson; Rep. Donnie Scoggins; Rep. Chris Bell; Brian Carlin, ExxonMobil CO2 Operations Manager; Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney; Director Elliott; Mike Butler, ExxonMobil Public and Government Affairs Manager; Sen. Dean Kirby; Rep. Zakiya Summers; Mike Smith, ExxonMobil Public and Stakeholder Engagement Lead; and Rep. Brent Powell
The Mississippi State Fire Academy (MSFA), in partnership with ExxonMobil Pipeline Company (EMPCo), held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday to officially unveil a new CO₂ pipeline training prop on campus.
The specialized training prop, made possible through EMPCo’s $50,000 Good Neighbor Grant and equipment donation, will provide Mississippi’s firefighters and first responders with hands-on, scenario-based training to prepare for CO₂ pipeline emergencies. The addition marks a significant investment in first responder safety and reinforces the Academy’s mission to deliver cutting-edge, real-world training.
“This prop will play a critical role in advancing the safety and preparedness of first responders across the state,” said Matt Ellis, Instructor Supervisor at MSFA. “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.”
“At ExxonMobil, safety is our core value, and training is the foundation of safety. That’s why we’re proud to bring this specialized CO₂ program right here to Mississippi,” said Brian Carlin, CO₂ Operations Manager at ExxonMobil. “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.”
Mississippi Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney added, “Pipelines are an important part of Mississippi’s infrastructure and energy future. But with that comes responsibility. This prop will give Mississippi’s firefighters and emergency personnel the hands-on training they need to respond quickly, effectively, and safely.”
Firefighters take part in a live demonstration of the new CO₂ pipeline training prop.
Strategically located in the heart of Mississippi, the new CO₂ prop makes specialized training more accessible to firefighters and emergency responders statewide. By placing this prop at the Academy in central Mississippi, the training is within reach for departments across the state, ensuring all Mississippi firefighters now have a practical, nearby resource to strengthen their readiness for CO₂ emergencies.
Over the weekend, the MS State Fire Academy held its first CO₂ Pipeline Emergency Response Training class, sponsored by ExxonMobil. The class consisted of 40 participants from nine counties across Mississippi including both municipal and county firefighters. Career and volunteer trainees learned about the properties of CO₂ and how to respond to CO₂-related incidents. They then applied their learnings with a live hands-on demonstration using MSFA’s new custom-built CO₂ training prop.
The CO₂ prop was designed to simulate real-world pipeline emergency conditions, enabling expert-led instruction and immersive training opportunities. With this addition, MSFA further strengthens its role as a national leader in fire service training and emergency response preparedness.