By Erin Smith
The Bladen County Firefighters Association received a $500 donation for the Bladen County Training Facility from Fire Connections, Inc. The company, located in Rocky Mount, is a supplier of equipment and firefighting tools for fire departments and firefighters. Chief Jackie Coleman of the Bladenboro Fire Department, and President James Freeman of the Bladen County Firefighters Association, received the check from Grant Vick of Fire Connections.
Melvia Price of the Bladen County firefighters Association said, “We are working on our training facility. We are soliciting donations from businesses or anyone in the community who would like to donate.”
Price said Fire Connections usually puts on a dinner for the firefighters but this year the company decided to make a contribution of $500 to help with the facility.
Currently, work being performed at the training facility includes the construction of a training tower where various firefighting simulations can be created. The purpose is to help firefighters become familiar with different situations they could potentially face in a real fire. She said the classrooms also have new carpet and have been painted. Price said they do still need tables and chairs.
Price said work is also being performed on the kitchen so dinners can be held at the facility.
The Bladen County Training Facility was formerly the White Lake Prison. When the prison closed, the county purchased the facility from the state of North Carolina. Price said when the state closed the facility, they stripped everything from it including light fixtures and faucets.
Price noted the Bladen County Training Facility is open to all 15 fire departments in the county to utilize for training classes.
If you would like to donate, you can contact Bladen County Emergency Management Director Bradley Kinlaw at 910-862-6761, Dale Brennan at 910-862-7363 or Jim Crayton at 910-670-1500.
About Author
