The 21st Annual Cleveland County Fire and Rescue College will be held November 13-15, 2015 at the LeGrand Center and the Brown Emergency Training Center (ETC) - both located in Shelby. The weekend-long event offers training to fire and rescue personnel who travel from all over North Carolina and surrounding states to take part. More than 500 emergency personnel have already registered to participate in classes focusing on certifications and rescue operations. "We anticipate that number to grow by several hundred more," says Jimmy Hensley, Brown ETC Coordinator. In 2014, 936 students attended the college.
"There are several live burns this year, and they will be held at the Brown ETC and at other locations around the county," Hensley says.
Throughout the weekend about 25 vendors will be set up in the LeGrand Center, displaying products and services related to the firefighting profession.
On Saturday evening, Nov. 14, the 4th Annual Fire & Rescue College Banquet will be held at the LeGrand Center. The evening event honors fire academy graduates and the Cleveland County Firefighters' Hall of Fame. This year's banquet will feature guest speaker Dr. David Griffin, who will discuss his book, In Honor of The Charleston 9: A Study of Change Following Tragedy, which tracks the events and aftermath of the June 18, 2007, Charleston warehouse fire that killed nine firefighters.
The college is sponsored by the Cleveland County Firefighters' Association and Cleveland Community College, and the Cleveland Community College Foundation is a major sponsor as well. The Cleveland County Fire and Rescue College is one of the three largest such schools held in North Carolina each year.

By APRIL HOYLE SHAUF
Special to Shelby Shopper