Pioneer Tech Emergency Services Training Center Opens
Pioneer Technology Center opened its Emergency Services Training Center in September to help provide training area fire departments and industries.
The Ponca City Fire and Life Safety Council had a vision for a local training facility more than 15 years ago. A little more than two years ago, Pioneer Tech joined the venture, which had strong support from area industry, agencies and volunteer fire departments.
In December 2018, the Pioneer Tech Board of Education approved the plan to build the training center on the eastern side of PTC’s property. The building was designed to meet the training needs of firefighters and law enforcement and provide industrial safety training in north central Oklahoma. The 44-foot-tall tower can simulate fires in houses and apartments and offer training for search and rescue. The 18,425-square-foot facility has two burn rooms, 10 rappelling points, eight staircases, a confined space trainer and 26 movable partitions.
“The new EMS Training Center gives availability and accessibility for agencies to meet the expense of training staff in a timely manner, which in turn will impact district partners with better-prepared service providers,” said Traci Thorpe, superintendent/CEO of Pioneer Tech.
Pioneer Tech has already booked an international group from South Korea for training at the facility in partnership with Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training.