CONFERENCE

and talk,” Starkville Fire Chief Charles Yarbrough said.

Yarbrough said the conference is helpful for every department because if one department is having issues, another department can step in and explain how they handled a particular situation.

Throughout the conference, there are presentations and speakers to help provide techniques and perspectives beneficial to those attending.

In addition to the speakers, Yarbrough said networking is the most important benefit of the conference. For Yarbrough, he said he learned about the history of the fire service and talked about looking into a

chaplain program for SFD.

“We are going to look into getting chaplains at the fire department because there is so much going on with stress and critical stress,” Yarbrough said. “That’s probably the biggest thing I learned today so far.”

Yarbrough said having vendors all in one place to showcase new equipment is constructive for the departments to update their equipment to better serve the people in their towns.

“They have the latest and greatest innovations,” Yarbrough said. “We get a chance to see what’s out there.”

Meridian Fire Chief Anthony Clayton said he has been a part of the fire service for 35 years and the ability to discuss plans and proactive approaches

to scenarios is the most useful part of the conference.

Clayton said regardless of department size, many of the conversations with other chiefs provides useful insight.

“Just because you’re a smaller city, doesn’t make you less important,” Clayton said. “There’s stuff that they are doing up here that might benefit Meridian.”

The conference will conclude on Thursday with a presentation from the former Oakland, California fire chief Teresa Deloach Reed.

Thursday will feature a panel discussion titled “The U.S. Fire Service Prepares for 2020,” along with events promoting firefighter fitness and nutrition, fire service higher education and a pub crawl from 6

p.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday will close the conference with a breakfast and closing ceremony.