November 30, 2011 - Albany Technical College will cut the ribbon on the new Firefighter Training Tower on Thursday, December 1, 2011, at 2pm on the east side of the campus.
The Firefighter Training Tower is a two-story steel frame structure built for training firefighters. The structure consists of a first and second floor and working roof area. The interior stairwell leads to the second floor and an interior fixed ladder leads from the second floor to the roof. In addition, an exterior ships ladder leads to a balcony attached to the second floor. A system of removable panels, located on the second floor, enables a myriad of training scenarios for search and rescue operations.
The training tower will provide realistic training in a safe environment for a variety of exercises for firefighter students including hose advancement, fire attack, ventilation, search and rescue, and forcible entry. During the Firefighter 1 and 2 programs at Albany Tech, students are taught a total of 96 tasks, which they must demonstrate proficiently. In addition, in order to obtain National Professional Qualifications (NPQ) Firefighter Certification, students must successfully demonstrate proficiency of 21 Life Safety Skills. National certification affords Albany Tech students a uniformity and portability of qualifications, as well as marketability for future employment.
“Training is the one and only time when instructors have complete control over the conditions and environment of which to prepare future firefighters,” said Don Laye, chairperson for the Fire Science Technology program at Albany Technical College. “Albany Tech instructors will utilize the training tower to incorporate numerous types of training exercises, as well as develop and prepare students for future employment. Repetition and practice of skills will eliminate dangerous and unwanted habits and further prepare Albany Tech students to become future firefighters.”
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