JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi State Fire Academy (MSFA) has been awarded $429,565.21 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grant helps meet the needs of fire departments, non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations, and state training facilities. This grant will be used to purchase a multi-purpose training package.
“This funding allows us to implement an integrated mobile training system, featuring appliances, hoses, nozzles, and pump simulators to deliver high-impact, hands-on training programs to firefighters across the state. We extend our gratitude to our congressional delegation for their support in securing this vital funding. This investment strengthens the skills and readiness of Mississippi's firefighters and is a significant enhancement to our Academy’s training capabilities," said Kelly Elliott, MSFA Executive Director.
“Enhancing our firefighting training with a mobile trailer represents a significant step forward in improving our overall training operations. This unit provides realistic, hands-on scenarios in a safe and controlled environment, allowing personnel to develop and refine critical skills under conditions that closely simulate real emergencies,” said State Fire Marshal and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. “The mobility of the trailer adds a valuable level of flexibility, enabling us to bring high-quality training directly to departments and crews in various locations. This approach not only increases accessibility and efficiency but also ensures that more firefighters are better prepared, more confident, and equipped to respond effectively in high-pressure situations.”
MSFA is tasked with serving the state per MS Code Annotated Section 45-11-7: "The Academy is officially designated as the agency of this state to conduct training for fire personnel on a statewide basis to all duly constituted fire departments."
We recognize the arduous work that went into preparing and submitting the AFG. Great job to MSFA Administrative Director Jessie Bowman and Instructor Chief Matt Hinkle.
