88th annual Miss. Firefighters’ Association Conference returns to Vicksburg May 28

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Fire service leaders from across the state will gather in Vicksburg for the 88th Annual Mississippi Fire Chiefs’ and Mississippi Fire Fighters’ Association Summer Conference, set for Thursday, May 29, through Saturday, May 31, at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

The three-day event will bring together fire chiefs, firefighters, emergency services personnel and vendors for training, networking and recognition.

Pre-conference activities begin Wednesday, May 28, with a 12:30 p.m. golf shotgun-start at the Vicksburg Country Club. Registration for the conference opens at 2 p.m., and vendor setup continues throughout the afternoon. The MSFCA Executive Board will also meet ahead of the official start.

The 88th annual MS Firefighters’ Association Conference officially opens Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at the Vicksburg Convention Center with a Call to Order by Chief Kyle Hill, president of the Mississippi Fire Chiefs’ Association. The Vicksburg Honor Guard and Mississippi Fire Service members will conduct the Posting of Colors. Vicksburg Fire Chief Derick Stamps, Mayor George Flaggs Jr., and Warren County Board of Supervisors Vice President Edward Herring will deliver welcome remarks.

Thursday’s agenda includes leadership development sessions, policy briefings on NFPA standards, and specialized workshops such as “Cultivating an Environment for Firemanship,” led by Matt Hinkle, and “Addressing Today’s Issues” by Derek McCoy. The Mississippi Fire Academy’s Kelly Elliott will speak later in the afternoon. The day wraps up with a vendor social at 5 p.m.

On Friday, May 30, the conference resumes at 8 a.m. with registration and a designation program for fire chiefs. The MFFA meeting begins at 1:30 p.m., followed by concurrent sessions on training programs and MSWIN communications systems. The day concludes with a street party at 6:30 p.m., featuring entertainment by Miles Flatt.

The final day, Saturday, May 31, opens at 8:30 a.m. and features committee reports, a joint memorial service at 10 a.m., and training on trauma management for public safety personnel. Afternoon sessions focus on leadership and emergency communications, followed by a firefighter rodeo at 4 p.m.

The conference concludes with a banquet at 6:30 p.m., including scholarship presentations, a conference report, and remarks from Ruth Ann Rigby.