WHO:

DMACC President Rob Denson will join students, faculty and staff from the DMACC Fire Science program, as well as representatives from fire departments and agencies from throughout Central Iowa, for a Ribbon-Cutting Event on Thur., Oct. 12, to celebrate the new DMACC Fire Training Facility on the College’s Ankeny Campus. The event is being held in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Month (Oct.) and National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 8-14), and will feature training demonstrations, a fire sprinkler efficacy test and facility tours.

The DMACC Fire Science Program is currently experiencing record enrollment numbers, including a 40 percent increase over the past several years, as the program prepares to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2024. The program typically caps its fall enrollment at 24 new fire science students, but given demand, the program accepted 40 new students for the fall 2023 semester and currently has an additional 18 students on a waiting list.

WHAT:

The new DMACC Fire Training Facility features a customized, three-story fire training tower that was fabricated using ISO freight containers (also known simply as shipping containers) and installed on a deep cement base. The tower was completed in May 2023 and is now being used by DMACC Fire Science students, as well as by several fire departments and agencies, to meet official training and education requirements.

WHEN:

1 p.m., Thursday, October 12

Facility tours and demonstrations will take place immediately following a short program and ribbon cutting.

WHERE:

DMACC Fire Training Facility at Ankeny Campus

2006 S. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny, IA

*Fire tower is located on the west side of Bldg. 14, with free parking available nearby in Lot H (campus map​).

WHY:

Graduates of the DMACC Fire Science Program are in high demand, especially as the need for well-trained professionals continues to grow throughout the firefighting industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 4.3 percent employment growth for firefighters between 2021 and 2031. DMACC is committed to providing high-quality education and training opportunities for the next generation of firefighting professionals, and the new DMACC Fire Training Facility is designed to help prepare students for safety and success in the field. To learn more about the DMACC Fire Science program, visit fire.dmacc.edu.

CONTACTS:

Media members are encouraged to attend this event and should contact: