On Monday, February 12th, key stakeholders gathered for a check presentation ceremony at the North Carolina Emergency Training Center (ETC) site. House Representative Wayne Sasser, Senator Carl Ford, Chief Brian Taylor of the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Chief Cook of the North Carolina Air National Guard (NCANG) Fire Department, along with Stanly County Commissioners and the County Manager, convened to celebrate a significant step forward in emergency preparedness.
The ceremony symbolized the collaboration between the state and local entities towards expanding the NC Emergency Training Center. Operated by the OSFM in partnership with NCANG Fire Department and Stanly County, this state-of-the-art facility is positioned to become the most advanced specialized emergency training facility in the country.
The expansion project is slated for completion in 2025. It will advance the ETC's capabilities to offer training in critical areas such as Swift Water Rescue, Aircraft Firefighting, Urban Search & Rescue, Hazmat, and Fire Investigation Technician courses.
The significant contributions towards the expansion project include:
Stanly County: $28 million
North Carolina Department of Insurance/Office of State Fire Marshal (NCDOI/OSFM): $58.5 million
UNC Collaboratory: $881,396
With total funding amounting to an impressive $87,381,396, this investment shows the commitment to improving emergency response readiness and protecting communities across North Carolina, as well as offers accessible, affordable advanced training to agencies and departments not only in North Carolina but across the country.