Blue Mountain Community College, in partnership with the Umatilla County Rural Fire
District No. 1, will host a grand opening celebration for a new fire training tower on Monday, Nov. 20, at Fire Station #23 in Hermiston.
The grand opening celebration will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the assistance of the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce, as well as lunch and a tour of the new tower. The tower will support BMCC’s fire science program, as well as regional training opportunities for firefighters.
Approximately 47 percent of the $748,000 training tower is funded by bond dollars approved by voters in May 2015 to enhance BMCC programs. The remaining costs are funded by UCRFD. BMCC started a fire science program three years ago, and the tower will allow students access to essential hands-on training. Though located in Hermiston, the tower will benefit students from around BMCC’s eastern Oregon district who participate in the fire science program at the College.
BMCC’s fire science program prepares students for occupations or advancement in fire suppression, investigation, prevention, public safety education, emergency management, emergency medical and rescue services, hazardous materials technology, wildland fire fighting, college transfer and other educational programs. BMCC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Fire Science Technology, as well as numerous certificates for both students who want to enter the fire service and professional firefighters who seek to obtain an AAS degree or meet specific Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) accreditation requirements or meet entry requirements for bachelor
degree programs in fire administration.
Fire Station #23 is located at 78760 Westland Road in Hermiston.
