February, 2007

Plans unveiled for Midwest Center
for Safety and Rescue Training

Eastern Iowa Community College District Chancellor Dr. Patricia Keir today announced plans to open a new Midwest Center for Safety and Rescue Training. The center will serve as a unique training ground for firefighters, emergency response professionals and many other groups as they enhance their safety and rescue skills.

The college has purchased the former Wacky Waters facility as the site for the new center. The 30-acre facility is located near Interstate 80, north of Davenport.

“This announcement is the result of a series of fortunate events,” Dr. Keir said. “First, with the support of the Davenport Fire Department, we approached the Iowa legislature during its last session for funding to use in construction of a building to do controlled burns for firefighter training. As a result of that request, we were awarded $400,000.

“And then late last year we were presented with the possibility of purchasing the Wacky Waters facility,” she said. “That facility is the perfect location for a safety and rescue training center.”

She pointed out that the facility’s location is easily accessible, just off Interstate 80, and it is also near EICCD’s Blong Technology Center. In addition, the facility is equipped to handle large amounts of water and many of the current structures can be re-designed to meet the needs of the new training center.

“In addition to traditional fire, safety and rescue training, we will offer training related to rescues on the river and other bodies of water,” EICCD Executive Director for Continuing Education Dr. Nancy Kothenbeutel said. “Such training is only minimally available either locally or statewide. This is because weather conditions often make training unsuitable.

“To find training in a controlled, safe and clean environment, area firefighters currently travel to the east, west or gulf coast for training on shipboard firefighting, marine firefighting and fireboat,” she said.

She said the district envisions the center as a multi-use facility with applications for fire departments, ambulance personnel, law enforcement, homeland security, hazardous materials training, programming within the skilled trades area and much more.

EICCD will be working closely with officials in all of these professions and throughout its geographic district to determine the best uses for the facility. The district plans to begin training later this year. The full extent of the training will depend on future partnerships and funding.