MS State Fire Academy

The State Fire Academy is located just outside the capital city of Jackson in Rankin County, Mississippi, on eighty-five acres. Construction began in 1974 with ongoing additions. This is an aerial view of the campus taken in 2007.
The original Burn Building was constructed in 1974. It has four levels and simulates residential and commercial buildings. Since the completion of the new burn building in 2006, this building has been converted into a self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) training area and collapse rescue training building. The SCBA training area will utilize mazes and artificial smoke for training. The collapse rescue area of the building will simulate collapsed ceilings, walls, and floors.

The Fire Research Building simulates a three-story residential structure with an attic, and a commercial structure with a basement. The building contains over 4,000 square feet of training space and is equipped with four computer controlled fire/smoke rooms and a Class A burn room with a liquid propane gas fueled fire simulator. A four (4) story drill tower is attached to the burn area. The computer controls are located in an adjacent building. The project was completed in November 2006 with the authorization by the State Legislature during the 2003 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature.

The five-story Drill Tower provides opportunities for high-rise ladder, rope and firefighting operations. In addition to this tower, there is a communications tower erected for training purposes.

The Live Burn area consists of five large concrete pads designed specifically to prevent environmental contamination. These training areas include: a fifty foot flowing fuel fire (LP gas Christmas tree fire); LP gas tank fire; pump seal fire; twenty foot vertical tank fire with exposures; horizontal tank fire with an exposed small tank truck; and a three story evolution simulating a chemical processing plant fire.

The Hazardous Materials training site consists of a large train derailment simulation with eleven cars. Railcars are movable and training site is piped with liquid/vapor propane for simulated fires and leak simulators.

Two lakes are on campus. One is forty feet deep and is utilized for dive rescue training. The other lake is used for water sources for pump testing fire apparatus.

The Confined Space training site has over 9,000 cubic feet of enclosed area and a forty-five foot tower. The underground area includes vents and drains with several emergency entries/exits. A forty-one by fourteen foot water vessel is dry docked for the instruction of offshore personnel.

An Arson Lab allows furnished rooms to be constructed to show fire and intensity burn patterns for fire/arson detection

There are five Aircraft Simulators to utilize while instructing aircraft firefighting and rescue training. A landing gear simulator is at this site along with a side-wall aircraft section used in training. We are recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration as an approved training site for this region. Students from all over the United States attend these courses for the required annual training to be in compliance with the FAA regulations.

A new trench rescue facility was donated, at no cost to the state or taxpayers, to the Mississippi State Fire Academy. Thanks to contributions of labor and materials from:AGC MU President Bill Cox and Eutaw Construction of Aberdeen; Delta Industries / Jackson Ready Mix; Mississippi Materials; ConSteel Co. of Flowood; Richard Rula and Hemphill Construction; Williford, Gearhart and Knight Inc., Greg Gearhart Structural Engineer; Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney; Federal OSHA Area Director Clyde Payne; Puckett Rents; Summitt Pipe & Supply

Other buildings on campus include the Administration Building in which offices, four classrooms, and a full service cafeteria are located.

The Fire Education and Safety Auditorium seats up to 300 people and is used for graduations and large meetings of the fire service. It can be divided into sections for a classroom environment.

The Fire Fighters Memorial is located on campus. The Memorial was placed here by the Mississippi Fire Fighters Association to represent all the fire service men and women that have paid the ultimate price within the State of Mississippi.

The dormitory has a common lobby area for students and currently can accommodate seventy-five students. An exercise area is located in the dorm for use by students, as well as a recreational area and a small computer lab.