Two members of Ashland Fire and Rescue spent the weekend at the Mississippi State Fire Academy completing CO2 pipeline emergency training, a specialized course that teaches first responders how to handle leaks and ruptures on carbon dioxide pipelines. The department shared the news in a Facebook post dated Oct. 3, 2026.
According to the department, Safety Officer Blake Zackary and Firefighter Jay Kimery attended the class, which the fire academy put on together with ExxonMobil. The Benton County department said it is “proud of the members we have that are progressive in training.”
What CO2 Pipeline Emergency Training Covers
Carbon dioxide is colorless and odorless, and it is heavier than air. When a high-pressure CO2 line fails, the gas can settle into low ground and push out oxygen, which can overcome people and stall vehicle engines before anyone realizes something is wrong. Courses like this one generally focus on:
Recognizing the signs of a CO2 release and sizing up the scene safely
Using air monitoring to find dangerous areas
Setting up evacuation and shelter-in-place zones
Coordinating with pipeline operators and other agencies
Protecting responders, who can be overcome as easily as residents
Why It Matters in Mississippi
Mississippi has an extensive network of CO2 pipelines, most of them built to serve oil fields in the central and southern parts of the state. The risks became widely known in February 2020, when a CO2 pipeline ruptured near Satartia in Yazoo County. Dozens of people were taken to hospitals, and the incident led to a federal review of CO2 pipeline safety rules.
Since then, emergency officials have worked to give local fire departments more hands-on preparation for this kind of call. The Mississippi State Fire Academy, the state’s main training center for firefighters, offers specialized classes so that smaller volunteer and rural departments can bring those skills home.
Ashland Fire and Rescue Keeps Training
For a small-town department like Ashland’s, sending members to the academy on a weekend is a real commitment of time. The training adds to what the department can offer residents of Ashland and the surrounding parts of Benton County when something unusual happens.
The class comes as Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 4-10, gets under way, when departments nationwide remind families to check smoke alarms and plan escape routes. With dry conditions across North Mississippi, residents should also check with county officials about burn bans before doing any outdoor burning.
Residents with questions about fire safety or the department’s services can reach Ashland Fire and Rescue through its Facebook page or by contacting the Town of Ashland.
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
