A comprehensive firefighting and emergency rescue training center for Wilkes County firefighters, discussed by county officials for decades, became a reality with the official opening of a new facility Thursday.
Components of the facility were built off-site by Arizona-based Fire Training Solutions and put together on the old county landfill property off Mount Carmel Church Road in Moravian Falls.
The $500,000 facility was funded entirely with federal COVID-19 relief money. More costly facilities were discussed by the Wilkes County commissioners in the past but never funded.
Niki Hamby and Tim Pardue, former Wilkes fire marshal and former deputy fire marshal respectively and now both retired, were recognized for their years of work on the facility.
Wilkes Fire Marshal Jeff Anderson said the facility is equipped to provide training needed for firefighters to have all certification required by the state.