RCC Fire and Rescue students take part in controlled burn at UNCP

This holiday season, continuing education students at Robeson Community College had a rare opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience through a series of controlled burns on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.  
 
UNCP had planned a series of controlled burns of 6 of its campus buildings in collaboration with RCC’s Emergency Services Director Steve West. With offices closed and students off campus for the winter break, it was the best time to allow for this training exercise to happen, minimizing risks and adding precautions as plumes of smoke billows around the campus.  

“These burns are a key component of a firefighter training program providing invaluable hands-on experience for local firefighters, including UNCP and RCC students,” stated Chad Locklear, the director of marketing and digital media at UNCP in an email.  

The controlled burns took place December 21 and December 22. Additional burns are scheduled for December 28, 29, and January 4, weather permitting.  

“This was a fantastic opportunity for our fire and rescue students to take part in a real-life exercise to practice their skills and gain experience that they can fall back on during emergency situations,” stated Executive Vice President Eric Freeman. “Our specialized training is customized for firefighters and first responders who work in the field, serving our community, so this was unique chance for us provide live fire scenarios in real time, and we know this training will help save lives in the future.”  

 Agencies represented during the controlled burns included volunteer fire departments from Robeson, Cumberland and Sampson counties, as well as local and state law enforcement officials including the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Students from both RCC and UNCP who are affiliated with local fire and EMS departments also participated. Officials from the Pembroke Police Department, Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and the UNCP Campus Police also conducted specialized law enforcement operations during the burns.  

“There are still more live fire structural burns scheduled,” Freeman said. “We are thankful to UNCP for allowing us to create the controlled burn scenarios with local agencies, and for allowing us to use this as a way to create training for our first responders.”  

The controlled burns are making way for the construction of UNCP’s new $91 million health sciences building. This building will house expanding healthcare programs, including the state’s first public Doctor of Optometry program. The new facility is a major milestone in the university’s mission to enhance healthcare education and address critical workforce needs in the region and beyond.