FTCC celebrates completion of final phase of $45 million Dr. J. Larry Keen Regional Fire and Emergency Training Complex

By Stephanie Meador, posted Jan 7, 2026 on BizFayetteville.com

On Jan. 7, FTCC celebrated completion of the final phase of the Dr. J. Larry Keen Regional Fire and Emergency Training Complex .Photos provided by GFBJ

Fayetteville Technical Community College celebrated the completion of Phase II of the Dr. J. Larry Keen Regional Fire and Emergency Training Complex today, Jan. 7, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“This is a project that was built on vision and collaboration and a shared commitment to strengthening the safety and resilience of our community. This new phase significantly expands our training capabilities here at the college and across eastern North Carolina,” shared FTCC President Mark Sorrells during the ceremony.

Phase I of the project was completed and opened in Sept. 2022. Additionally, the Swift Water Rescue Training Facility came online in January 2024. The total cost of all phases for the project is approximately $45 million.

“This facility boosts the readiness of our first responders, specifically our fire and rescue personnel, and by doing that, it enhances our community safety, but it also provides collaboration with all our public safety agencies, especially fire and rescue, not just here in Cumberland County and in Fayetteville, but regionally,” shared Chief Freddy Johnson, Sr. at the event.

The training complex includes a three-story commercial burn building.

The project was made possible through the donation of 30 acres of land and $10 million by Cumberland County, as well as a donation of $20 million from the North Carolina General Assembly. The remaining balance was covered by funds appropriated to the college for construction by Cumberland County and institutional funds.

“Being from Florida, we had a similar facility in Jacksonville, it was not as extensive as this. It’s just amazing what they could do here and how they can train for real-world activities…it's amazing how smooth it went. And I know it's been about eight years from start to finish, but still, when you look at what had to be done and spent, that’s not that long of a time,” reflected Dr. J. Larry Keen, former president of FTCC.

Specialized training features at the complex include the Swift Water Rescue Training Facility, repelling tower, underground and trench recovery, agricultural grain storage for farm rescue scenarios, fully operational fire station equipped with simulated fire truck for driving and pump set-up, a three-story commercial burn building, two-story multi-family burn building, a residential burn structure, a liquid petroleum burn pit, an airplane fuselage, an urban rescue area and arriving this Friday, Jan. 9, fire investigation huts provided by the State of N.C.

The ceremony included a live demonstration of the liquid petroleum burn pit.

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