Officials said the expanded facility will enhance firefighter training, improve public safety and provide hands-on learning opportunities for first responders across Cumberland County and the state.
The project, six years in the making, adds advanced live-burn training capabilities, including residential, commercial and multi-family structures, an airplane fuselage, liquid petroleum burn areas and fire investigation huts.
"This is phase three, which is the burn site that brought in burn capabilities, both residential, commercial and multi-family burn centers, as well as an airplane fuselage and a liquid petroleum burn center," said Dr. Mark Sorrells, president of Fayetteville Technical Community College. "We'll also have fire investigation huts."
Fire officials say the complex allows firefighters to gain real-world experience using advanced rescue and firefighting techniques.
"We do all our fire certifications here, from Firefighter I through fire officer training, structure firefighting, everything that's in the catalog, we can teach you," said Chief Freddy Johnson Sr., president of the Cumberland County Fire Chiefs Association.
Cumberland County Commissioner Kirk DeViere said while the ribbon-cutting marks a milestone, the impact of the facility will be felt long after the celebration ends.
"Today we celebrate completion, but tomorrow this complex saves lives," DeViere said.
The $45 million project was funded through a partnership between the state, local government and the college. Cumberland County donated 30 acres of land and contributed $10 million, the state provided $20 million, and the remaining funding came from institutional sources.
Sorrells said the facility fills a critical training gap for firefighters, particularly volunteers.
"Previously, to get this level of training, you had to go to Gastonia, and there was a two-year wait," Sorrells said. "Volunteer fire departments often don't have the budgets to travel or stay overnight. This localized effort supports the economy and provides continuous training opportunities for our first responders."
For Johnson, the new complex represents progress for the next generation of firefighters.
"This has been a long time coming," he said. "I've been in the service going on 15 years, and we didn't have this when I started. Now our firefighters today and in the future can get state-of-the-art training right here in Fayetteville."
Officials said the expanded training programs are also expected to improve firefighter recruitment and retention throughout the region.
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