SCC Hosts International Firefighters for Training

International firefighters were recently hosted at Surry Community College in conjunction with Global Gear Initiative.

A total of 32 firefighters from Columbia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru received intensive hands on training. They spent four days at the college's Emergency Services Training Center receiving instruction on how to work with hazardous materials, handle propane fire suppression, and conduct structural firefighting along with focusing on firefighter safety and survival as well as practicing vehicle and rope rescue.

Surry Community College and Global Gear Initiative have partnered over the past several years to offer this type of valuable training. Global Gear Initiative accepts donations of firefighting equipment from departments across the United States and sends the equipment to fire departments in other countries that do not have the equipment. These firefighters then attend the training at Surry Community College to learn how to use the equipment along with modern firefighting tactics.

Surry Community College offers a variety of firefighting, rescue and hazardous materials classes both on campus and through organizations in Surry and Yadkin counties. Students can receive a certificate to become a Certified Firefighter, Technical Rescuer, or Fire Officer. The college offers a vast number of courses for those just entering the firefighting field, as well as those in current rescue job positions looking to renew their current certifications or add skills to their repertoire. All certification classes are conducted in accordance with the North Carolina Fire and Rescue Commission's policies and guidelines.

For more information, contact Ian Harrell, Director of Fire and Rescue Programs, at (336) 386-3403 or harrelli@surry.edu.