Continuing education students at Robeson Community College recently had the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience through a series of controlled burns on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP).  
UNCP had planned a series of controlled burns of six of its campus buildings in collaboration with RCC’s Emergency Services Director Steve West. With offices closed and students off campus for the winter break, it was the best time to allow for this training exercise to happen.

“These burns are a key component of a firefighter training program providing invaluable hands-on experience for local firefighters, including UNCP and RCC students,” stated Chad Locklear, the director of marketing and digital media at UNCP in an email.  

The controlled burns took place Dec. 21, 22, 28 and 29. An additional burn is scheduled for this weekend, Jan. 4, weather permitting.  

“This was a fantastic opportunity for our fire and rescue students to take part in a real-life exercise to practice their skills and gain experience that they can fall back on during emergency situations,” stated Executive Vice President Eric Freeman in a press release. “Our specialized training is customized for firefighters and first responders who work in the field, serving our community, so this was a unique chance for us to provide live fire scenarios in real time, and we know this training will help save lives in the future.”  

Agencies represented during the controlled burns included volunteer fire departments from Robeson, Cumberland and Sampson counties, as well as local and state law enforcement officials including the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Students from both RCC and UNCP who are affiliated with local fire and EMS departments also participated. Officials from the Pembroke Police Department, Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and the UNCP Campus Police also conducted specialized law enforcement operations during the burns.

The controlled burns are making way for the construction of UNCP’s new $91 million health sciences building. This building will house expanding healthcare programs, including the state’s first public Doctor of Optometry program. The new facility is a major milestone in the university’s mission to enhance healthcare education and address critical workforce needs in the region and beyond.