Insurance Commissioner George Dale, who also serves as Mississippi’s fire marshal, said Thursday the State Fire Academy has received a $150,000 grant for training in terrorism preparedness.

Dale said the funds were provided by the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security through the federal Homeland Security Grant Program.

The funding will be used to provide training to the state’s firefighters/emergency responders to enhance their capabilities to respond to acts of domestic and international terrorism, the use of weapons of mass destruction and biochemical agents, he said.

“The goal of the training is to reduce Mississippi’s vulnerability to terrorism through preparedness and protective efforts,” said Reggie Bell, the academy’s executive director said.