Pike County Emergency Management Director Tina Reed received the National Association of State Fire Marshals’ 2026 Leadership in Incident Response Award for her handling of a carbon dioxide release on Oct. 16, 2025, at an ExxonMobil valve station in rural Pike County, Mississippi, the association said. NASFM said Reed was honored virtually during its 36th Annual Fire Prevention and Safety Symposium in Garden Grove, California.
The association said Reed was alerted to the carbon dioxide release and quickly dispatched first responders to work with ExxonMobil personnel to ensure residents were safe. NASFM said Reed had attended a voluntary carbon dioxide pipeline emergency training program conducted by ExxonMobil days before the incident.
“I am honored to receive the Leadership in Incident Response Award from NASFM. I want to share this recognition with my fellow first responders in Pike County,” Reed said in a statement provided by NASFM. “By working together with NASFM, industry and local first responders can bring awareness to how to properly respond to incidents and keep our communities safe.”
Phil Oakes, chief operating officer of NASFM, said the organization commends Reed for her leadership during the response and in daily preparedness efforts. “Her dedication to keeping her community safe through education, awareness, and training on pipeline safety is admirable,” Oakes said. NASFM said the award recognizes first responders and emergency management officials who provide outstanding service, professionalism and leadership to their communities.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
