Blue Ridge Community College is enhancing its fire and rescue training capabilities with the addition of a new structure at the Fire Training Center, part of the College’s Public Safety Training Facility in Henderson County. Currently under construction, the versatile structure will soon provide fire service professionals with hands-on experience in real-world fire control scenarios. Called a “burn building,” the structure will be repeatedly outfitted with realistic surfaces and obstacles to be set ablaze during training exercises.

The new structure consists of 11 stacked Conex containers, otherwise known as shipping containers, and is specifically designed to simulate a variety of fire and rescue operations. Training scenarios will involve live fire and control exercises, high heat and low visibility conditions, rapid intervention crew training, ventilation conditions, search and rescue training, and ladder and engine company operations. This addition complements an existing three-container structure used to teach fire behavior, that is, helping students learn to interpret fire and smoke conditions.

“You’re opening your students up to many more real-world scenarios, showing them real-life fire conditions that they are then able to extinguish,” said Kameron Buchanan, adjunct fire instructor at Blue Ridge Community College.

According to Buchanan, the new structure is unique to Henderson County and Western North Carolina.

 “This is really the new way of the fire service for training facilities, because of the cost-effectiveness and versatility of shipping containers,” he explained. 

Compared to traditional brick-and-mortar training buildings, which are significantly more expensive to construct and replace, shipping container structures provide a more affordable and adaptable alternative, saving agencies and communities tens of thousands of dollars per structure.

Designed to meet all North Carolina fire training standards, including those set forth by the state fire marshal, the facility allows for training in fire control conditions at grade, above grade, and below grade. 

“These are scenarios you can’t replicate in many training buildings," Buchanan added. "It’s a very unique building, and we can use it for multiple sources of training."

With the latest expansion, Blue Ridge Community College continues to lead the way in fire and rescue training, equipping future first responders in Western North Carolina with the skills needed to serve and protect their communities effectively.

Source: BRCC.