Fayetteville Technical Community College held a double celebration for their new Regional Fire & Rescue Training Center on Monday Sept. 19 at 775 Tom Starling Road in Fayetteville.
Featuring a Groundbreaking and Hose Uncoupling ceremony, the events celebrated the completion of the 24,000-square-foot building that anchors the training complex, and includes classrooms, simulation labs, offices and three apparatus bays.
A practice that is common for firefighters, a Hose Uncoupling takes the place of a ribbon cutting Leaders and planners involved with the project uncoupled short sections of a fire hose to mark the grand opening of a new building.
“From the very beginning, we have had the involvement of people from the fire service and rescue areas, that have been in these conversations, and this could not have happened without them…” said FTCC President Dr. J. Larry Keen. “...This is more than just a building, this is more than just the culmination of some dreams, it is literally the opportunity for us to say not only ‘Thank you’, but to give this state of the art training and educational facility, to those who are going to be responsible for helping us in some of our most difficult times.”
Following the Hose Uncoupling ceremony, the Groundbreaking took place for a Swift Water Rescue Training Center, a project that will be part of the training complex.
The facility will house an 88,000-gallon tank with pumps that can blast water at a flow of up to seven knots, or approximately 8.06 mph, allowing first responders and others to train year-round for water rescues in floods, swift-water situations and other water situations. The facility, expected to be completed by Spring 2023, and will be the only indoor facility of its kind on the East Coast of the United States. The facility’s tank is being created by Fathom Tanks of Georgetown, Texas.
These facilities are part of a 30-acre complex that will provide state-of-the-art fire and rescue training programs for fire and emergency personnel from Cumberland County and beyond. Forthcoming additions to the complex include:
Cindy Akers-Gilford creates stained glass, fused glass, mosaics, handmade glass jewelry, pendants, suncatchers and other original glass artwork in her studio in Dunn, N.C. Photos provided by Cimply Broken.Self-made Artist and Founder of Cimply Broken
FirstHealth’s art therapy for cancer patients and caregivers helps attendees reduce stress through creative expression. Photo provided by Deborah Yarborough.Group therapy can provide much-needed support and comfort during difficult times, and t
Van Goat Studios, which has been operating since 2019, has allowed Johnson to express herself and reflect the spirit of local communities through murals. Photo provided by Elyse Johnson.Elyse Johnson of Van Goat Studios in Dunn wants to spread her ar
