City firemen expected to cover county during funeral

Published 12:00 am Monday, May 18, 2009

Vicksburg firefighters are expected to cover for county volunteers Tuesday so the men and women from the county’s six departments may attend funeral services for a firefighter’s two children who died in a blaze early Saturday.

The boys, 4-year-old Tyler Daniel and 22-month-old Hadyn Anderson Smith, were the sons of Trey and Jennifer Smith, whose Sherman Avenue mobile home was destroyed by fire. Trey Smith is the assistant chief of Culkin Volunteer Fire Department.

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Donations to the Trey and Jennifer Smith family may be made at any Trustmark bank in Vicksburg.

“It’s just the right thing to do,” Vicksburg Fire Chief Keith Rogers said this morning.

He said approval by the City of Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen would have to be granted, but he expected that to happen today.

“Talks are under way with the city,” Culkin Chief Gerry Briggs said. “I feel pretty confident it will be accomplished.”

Trey and Jennifer Smith were released from University Medical Center Saturday, after being treated for smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire, believed to be accidental, remains under investigation.

The boys’ father reportedly kicked out an air conditioner to get his wife out of the house, but could not overcome the smoke and flames to rescue their children. Witnesses said he did everything possible to save his sons.

Multiple agencies, including city and volunteer firefighters, responded to the fire reported at about 1 a.m.

Funeral services for the children are set for 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon at Glenwood Funeral Home and Green Acres Memorial Park.

The city coverage would involve either city fire trucks at the ready to respond to fires outside municipal limits or the city’s personnel and equipment being moved on site at the county’s volunteer fire stations during the services. One plan discussed this morning would provide three city firefighters at each of the county’s fire stations, with backups for each coming from municipal resources.

An account has been opened at Trustmark National Bank for the Smith family. Briggs said donations may be made at any branch.

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Contact Danny Barrett Jr. at dbarrett@vicksburgpost.com