(San Antonio, TX, May 21, 2009) – This morning San Antonio College President Robert E. Zeigler, PhD, along with Bexar County Commissioner Precinct 1 Sergio “Chico” Rodriguez, and San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood cut the ribbon on Phase I of the First Responders Academy in an unique ceremony in South Bexar County.
 
A fire engine “cut” the ribbon and firefighting students responded to a car fire and a controlled burn as audience members watched.     
 
Event speakers also included Alamo Colleges Chancellor Bruce Leslie, Ph.D.; ACCD Board of Trustees Chair Denver McClendon;  Vernell Walker, SAC Dean of Professional & Technical Education;  and academy instructor Curtis Franz. The San Antonio Firefighters Pipe & Drum Brigade provided pre-event entertainment, and San Antonio firefighter Kevin Scott sang the National Anthem alongside the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association Honor Guard.
 
 “This state-of-the-art training facility addresses both the academic and technical requirements of the modern firefighters,” SAC President Zeigler said. “SAC will become a leading provider of public safety training, producing well-educated and realistically trained responders.”
 
He explained that the facility would serve  San Antonio College fire science students, as well as but also South Central Texas communities through continuing education certification for firefighters by enhancing the capabilities of emergency services and community preparedness.
 
The 58-acre site contains 11 classrooms, a three-story burn building, multi-bay simulated fire station, and physical fitness training facility.  Future builds will include a swift water rescue simulation, emergency driving course, train derailment/truck accident site, academic administration building, gymnasium and an assortment of buildings representing apartments, shopping centers, offices and warehouses.  
 
In addition to Fire Science, the department includes  homeland security and emergency management.  
 
“The Protective Services Department at San Antonio College has had a long-standing association with the local fire, EMS, and law enforcement agencies in the San Antonio area. Their support of our programs has been instrumental in the success of the various  associate degree programs that we offer,” Department Chair Gary Fox said.
 
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that employment  in fire fighting occupations is expected to grow by 12 percent through 2016.  A recent survey of South Texas fire departments  found that more than 10,000 firefighters could benefit from a new training facility – and 100 percent of those surveyed indicated a need for quality training facility.  
 
Marmon Mok handled Master Planning. OCO Architects designed Phase I of the Academy.   Project manager was Broaddus + Project Control. Engineering  support came from CDS/Muery, Bain Medina Bain, Raba Kistner and  Alpha Engineers.  Abercrombie Planning & Design is the fire training facility consultant.

Students from SAC's First Responders Academy demonstrate how to
extinguish a car fire during the  ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, May 21.

Pictured from left: Commissioner Rodriguez, SAC President Dr. Robert Zeigler; Denver McClendon, chairman Alamo Colleges Board of Trustees; Vernell Walker, SAC Dean of Professional & Technical Education; and Alamo Colleges Chancellor Dr. Bruce Leslie.