UNC Asheville to Host Weeklong Asheville Fire Department Training Exercises;
Soon-to-be Renovated Classroom Building to Serve as Site

In this case, where there’s smoke, there won’t be fire.

More than 200 firefighters from the City of Asheville Fire and Rescue Department will take over UNC Asheville’s Zageir Hall March 4-11 for search-and-rescue drills. The University recently offered the soon-to-be renovated classroom building as dedicated space for the around-the-clock exercises during UNC Asheville’s spring break.

“The University is very pleased that Zageir Hall will be used for such important training exercises,” said Steve Baxley, UNC Asheville Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Operations. “The building has two stories and contains large rooms as well some small, convoluted spaces. It is very different from the fire department’s routine training facility and so should offer some excellent challenges and experiences.”

Planned exercises include after-dark training with night vision goggles, breaching walls, and rescues after the building has been filled with synthetic smoke.

“We are fortunate to be able to partner with UNC Asheville in order to advance the training of our firefighters,” said Greg Grayson, City of Asheville Fire and Rescue Department chief. “This training experience will enable us to be better prepared for the challenges we face in serving and protecting our community. We thank the University for their willingness to improve public safety for Asheville.”

This event is among continuing opportunities the University offers local first responders for training exercises. Operation Highsmith, held in the former Highsmith Center prior to massive renovations in 2002, was one of the largest terrorism and structural collapse exercises ever held in the state. In addition, when land was cleared for the construction of the new Facilities Management Complex last year, two abandoned buildings on the site were used by local fire departments for burn drills.

Renovations to Zageir Hall are expected to begin later this month and be completed in spring 2007. Worn flooring will be replaced and several walls will be moved to create more usable space. The mechanical and fire alarm systems will also be upgraded. This $2.5 million project is the last of several UNC Asheville projects funded by the 2000 Higher Education Bond Referendum. Pearce Brinkley Cease & Lee of Asheville are the project architects.

Media Contacts:

• Steve Baxley, UNC Asheville Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Operations, 828/232-5031

• Kelley Webb, City of Asheville Fire and Rescue Department Public Information Officer, 828/251-4011 (office) or 828/768-1437 (cell)

• Jill Yarnall, UNC Asheville Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526