As dark smoke circled high into the air in the industrial park area off Manpower Road, the smell of a structure fire was almost overwhelming.
A normal quiet Sunday morning was interrupted by the sound of fire engines pumping water, fire department leaders barking instructions and dozens of sweaty firefighters battling the hot elements through oxygen masks.
The scene wasn’t about death and destruction.
All the commotion was about avoiding it.
The Corinth Fire Department and Dixie Firemanship was hosting a three-day training session at the James Young Training Center.
It’s a firefighter brotherhood whose mission is to better train fellow firemen with the ultimate goal of saving lives.
“It’s a group of guys wanting to teach and train others,” said Jerry Whirley, training officer for the Corinth Fire Department. “It’s a brotherhood to get together and make a difference.”
With the training center ground littered with dummies pulled from the training site’s smoldering structure, the overall goal could be noted from the 75 fireman who signed up for the weekend training.
“It’s a group who want to save lives,” said Whirley.
Firemanship instructors shared techniques to fight fires, proper ways to handle ladders and hoses, plus improved search and rescue operations.
“Word has gotten out on the great training we have,” noted Whirley, as fighters came from throughout Mississippi and as far away as the Gulf Coast area, Vicksburg and Cleveland.
Other states represented included Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas, he said.
Counting fire department chiefs and assistant chiefs, there were about 100 at the training center, as the session began Friday night and lasted all day Saturday and Sunday.
Terry Wages, executive director of the Mississippi State Fire Academy, also attended on Friday and Saturday.
“We were proud to have have him,” said Whirley.
Corinth’s training officer was proud of the turnout for the training and the level of support from the local community to assist in many ways to make the weekend a success.
Northeast Mississippi Junior College at Corinth provided classroom space, Hampton Inn provided rooms for instructors and the Corinth Elks Lodge provided a meeting area.
Many businesses gave cash donations, while many restaurants provided food at discounted rates to keep firefighters fed for the weekend.
“We could not do this without the support of the community,” said Whirley. “We really do appreciate it.”
The local training officer wanted the community to know the training will make a difference in Corinth and beyond.
“We have made a difference in firefighting in the state of Mississippi,” he said. “No doubt.”