High-tech fire training facility going up on NW
by Lauren Crider, nw news editor

    While all TCC campuses are undergoing renovation or dealing with maintenance problems, the NW Campus’ current project is groundbreaking—literally and technologically.

   The fire academy will benefit from most of this construction.

   Once finished, the new additions to the fire academy should attract students and groups from all over the country. The NW Campus has one of few academies able to provide instruction in some of the most advanced fire training.

   Those involved in the project are looking forward to the opportunity the new facilities will provide to students.

   “This is a big project; it’s state of the art. I’m really excited,” Dr. Joe Rode, dean of student development at the NW Campus, said.

   Along with new buildings for offices and classrooms, more technologically advanced training amenities are being added to the campus.

   A simulated cityscape, including a warehouse, single-family dwelling and strip shopping center, is being built to give students hands-on training in fire fighting and rescue.

   Dr. Michael Saenz, president of NW Campus, expressed the need to make the training as accurate as possible. The more realistic the training, the better acquainted the students can become with equipment and techniques.

   “We want to give as realistic training as we can provide,” he said.

   Swift-water rescue facilities are also in the works on NW Campus. Two large water-storage tanks are being added to the grounds. The water can be pumped out, simulating a high-water rescue and enabling the water to be recycled for use.

   An entirely new arena will be open to students with the flood simulator. They can train in a situation inaccessible to them in the past.

   Ted Phillips, public safety programs chair, emphasized the uniqueness of the simulator, saying that in the past safety has been an issue in this type of training.

   “We can totally control the water flow,” he said.

   When not in use, the two ponds will be used as a decorative area for students to congregate.

   The college hopes to have the projects completed by August and begin holding classes there in September. When finished, it will cost the college $17 million.

   Measurements are now being taken for the latest project, also dealing with the fire academy.

   A fire in a Baltimore train tunnel created concern in the world of fire training, Saenz said. Casualties and damage were great because firefighters had not been trained to fight tunnel fires.

   In response, Burlington Northern Santa Fe is working with the NW Campus to provide training for such an event, as there is currently no place in the country equipped to prepare firefighters for similar events.

   They will be trained to deal with hazardous material often carried in trains and deal with the uniqueness of a train fire and rescue.

   Phillips noted the importance of this training.

   “It’s a very hard fire to fight,” he said.

   The railroad plans to lay track, donate three old rail cars and possibly build tunnels to provide simulation of the Baltimore event. The entire project will be sponsored by the company at no cost to the college.

   “The best thing to keep in mind is that this complex is going to provide training for firefighters in this area that they’ve never seen before,” Phillips said. “This will ultimately benefit the community.”

   Firefighters from all over the country will then be sent to the campus to train at the facility.

   Proposals have been made and sketches drawn for an outdoor amphitheater at the campus. Saenz expects it to be top notch.

   “If we’re going to do something, we’re going to do it first class,” he said.

   The projected cost is $3 million, and the project should be started within the next two years.

   Along with the improvements, the campus is facing problems with water pressure.

   When the campus was built, water pipes were laid according to the needs of the campus at that time. With the expansion of the college and addition of the new fire-academy facilities, the campus uses more water. Because of its proximity to the water-treatment facility, the campus is experiencing problems with water pressure.

   It has now become difficult to get water to the fourth floor of the Node building and may be difficult to provide water to the new buildings.

   The campus and the Fort Worth water department are working toward a solution. The college and the City of Fort Worth are debating which entity will have to pay to have new pipes installed to provide water to the campus.

   One possible solution is to build a holding tank on the roof of the Node, then pump the water to the top floor.