Business Education

FTCC holds ribbon-cutting and demonstrations at new Swift Water Rescue Training Facility

By Stephanie Meador, posted 2 years ago
Training demonstrations in the facility were conducted following the ribbon-cutting. Photo by GFBJ

Fayetteville Technical Community College has built a specially designed indoor facility to provide swift water rescue training.

FTCC held a ribbon-cutting at 2 p.m. today, Nov. 13, for the school’s new Swift Water Rescue Training Facility, which is part of the Dr. J. Larry Keen Fire & Emergency Training Complex at 775 Tom Starling Road in Fayetteville. 

“Here in Cumberland County, We've seen the dangers and the difficulties from widespread flooding caused by hurricanes and severe storms…It is essential that our responders have access to the absolute best and most accessible training for water rescue and other emergency disaster situations,” remarked FTCC President Mark Sorrells at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

This is the only indoor Swift Water Rescue Training facility on the East Coast of the United States. It provides emergency responders with an opportunity to train year-round for a variety of rescue situations in a controlled environment that is not dependent on weather, time of day or the usage or flow rates of rivers and other bodies of water. 

Fathom Tanks is the provider of the swift water simulation technology.  

The SWRTF contains a 140,000-gallon tank, ten pumps that can blast water at a flow of up to 7 knots, and the ability to simulate a variety of training scenarios, including different weather, water temperatures, obstacles and rescue challenges, including simulated rescues at night.

Rescue teams up and down the east coast have already signed up and are eager to train in Fayetteville because of the new facility. “The financial and safety benefits of technology like this is a game changer for rescue departments throughout North Carolina,” shared Christine Crum, PR Consultant for Fathom Tanks.

Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
cape-fear-valley-health john-bigger headshott

Putting mental health first: Inside Cape Fear Valley Health’s behavioral health system

John Bigger - Corporate Director of Behavioral Health, Sleep Medicine and Clinical Research, Cape Fear Valley Health
cape-fear-eye-associates cory-worrell headshott

Cape Fear Eye Associates: Setting a Higher Standard in Vision Care

Cory Worrell - Director of Marketing, Cape Fear Eye Associates
united-way-of-cumberland-county scott-embry headshott

Gratitude: Honoring the generosity of a community by maximizing impact

Scott Embry - Executive Director & CEO, United Way of Cumberland County

In The Current Issue

Editor's note: Traditions and new beginnings

Hello, loyal readers. I am writing to you as someone older and therefore wiser (okay, I’m actually writing this the day before my birthday, but you will receive your copy after I’ve already celebrated). I was reminded of how truly blessed I am t


Certified in self-care: Renaissance Day Spa expands luxury offerings, renovates spaces and builds new Fayetteville location

Renaissance offers a broad range of massage services, from standard Swedish and deep tissue massages to signature massages that offer clients aromatherapy, a farmhouse-sourced “honey heel glaze” foot treatment and hot stone therapy. Photo by Style To


Locally sourced, family-owned: No-BS Meats celebrates the opening of its new storefront in downtown Fayetteville

Nikole (pictured) and Lakota Shawn began selling their meat at farmers markets and in an online store in 2024. Now, they’ve opened their first brick-and-mortar location. Photo by GFBJ.The Shawn family believes in quality, locally sourced food, and th