►
Description
The press conference for the grand opening of the Public Safety Training Facility located here in Buncombe County took place on Tuesday, October 16. Members from state and local fire departments, EMS, Sheriff, police, local officials, and more gathered to celebrate the impact this facility will have on providing top-notch training for emergency workers.
A
I'm
David
Gant,
I'm
the
Buncombe
County
Commission
Chair,
and
it
is
my
honor
and
pleasure
to
be
here
today:
honoring
you,
men
and
women
and
our
new
facility.
You
know
one
of
the
most
basic
parts
of
government
is
to
make
people
safe.
We
take
care
of
people.
We
make
sure
that
you
don't
have
to
worry
about
someone
coming
and
hurting
you
that
if
you
have
an
emergency,
you
have
a
fire.
You
have
a
bad
situation.
A
Someone
is
going
to
take
care
of
you
and
keep
it
from
being
a
worse
situation.
Today
we
honor
the
men
and
women
who
work
to
make
that
happen.
24
hours
a
day,
seven
days
a
week,
you
deal
with
the
worst
situations
that
are
imaginable.
People
like
me,
would
not
last
one
minute
in
the
jobs
you
do
because
you're
on
the
front
line,
you're
being
a
mediator,
a
counselor
referee,
a
teacher
parent
advisor
you
do
it
all
you
do
it
all.
You
don't
ask
for
any
thank-yous.
A
You
quietly
do
your
job
and
part
of
our
job
as
a
government
is
to
make
sure
you
have
the
facilities
and
the
training
to
do
the
job.
The
best
you
can
be
and
that's
what
it's
about
today,
we've
had
some
as
you
see
on
the
front
that
have
given
the
ultimate
sacrifice
in
the
in
the
public
safety
arena
and,
let's
just
take
a
minute.
Remember
them.
Let's
just
take
about
20
seconds
and
bow
our
heads
and
think
about
the
men
and
women
who
have
given
the
ultimate.
A
Thank
you
and
another
part
of
what
we're
going
to
do
here.
Besides,
train
you
to
be
the
best
you
can
be,
which
you
you're
already
the
best
we're
going
to
make
even
better,
but
we're
going
to
learn
how
things
happen,
so
they
don't
happen
again.
Try
to
reconstruct
and
figure
out
how
accidents,
fires,
bad
situations
happen
and
how
they
can
be
taken
care
of
it's
a
hazardous
profession
and
I
mean
a
profession
with
a
capital
P.
The
men
and
women
in
public
safety
are
the
bedrock
of
our
government.
A
Because
when
you
break
it
down,
if
we
don't
have
you
on
the
front
line,
making
sure
that
we're
safe
making
sure
that
bad
situations
don't
get
worse,
we
really
don't
have
much
of
anything.
We
don't
have
much
of
a
country
much
of
a
community,
but
you
make
us
all
better
and
I.
Thank
you
from
the
bottom
of
my
heart
and
it's
such
a
thrill
to
be
up
here
with
the
facility.
That's
going
to
take
us
in
the
21st
century,
and
it's
going
to
be
one
of
the
best,
if
not
the
best.
A
In
North
Carolina,
we
have
an
opportunity
to
give
you
the
tools
and
we're
going
to
do
it
and
we're
going
to
keep
working
with
you
to
make
it
better
and
better.
On
behalf
of
the
community.
I
want
to
thank
you
for
what
you
do,
and
it
is
my
pleasure
and
honor
to
represent
the
other
people
who
made
this
15
million
dollar
facility
possible
by
County,
Commission
and
I'll
start
with
Commissioner
ray
Bailey.
B
You
know
most
of
you
know
that
I
was
in
the
education
business
for
most
of
my
life
and
they
BTech.
Once
upon
a
time
we
got
tired
of
fire
trucks
knocking
down
all
of
our
light
poles
law
enforcement
vehicles
that
tore
up
asphalt
and
guardrail
and
emergency
vehicles
doing
something
similar
when
I
all
you
vote
from
for
baby
time,
we've
saved
you
thousands
of
dollars
in
the
future
by
building
this
facility.
B
B
And
had
some
property
out
on
Sand,
Hill
and
I'm.
Sorry,
this
road-
and
we
truthfully
just
didn't-
have
enough
space
so
I'm
very
pleased
to
be
here
today
and
be
a
part
of
this
commission
that
allocated
the
dollars
and
had
the
foresight
to
develop
this
public
service
training
facility
that,
according
to
our
architects,
is
not
only
the
best
in
North
Carolina.
It
is
also
the
best
in
the
southeast
of
the
United
States
and
that's
a
one.
B
That's
a
wonderful
thing
that
we're
we're
right
there
at
the
top
of
all
those
other
facilities
across
the
country
and
so
to
all
of
you
who
who
serve
us
in
law
enforcement
and
EMS
and
fire.
You
now
have
right
here
in
your
County
and
you'll,
be
working
with
the
best
Community
College
and
in
North
Carolina.
Do
all
the
training
and
working
with
you
so
that
in
the
future,
you
can
do
all
of
the
things
and
have
it
your
disposable
all
of
the
things
that
that
anybody
else
has
had
and
even
better.
B
So
thank
you
for
letting
me
be
a
part
of
all
of
this
as
we
work
diligently
over
all
these
years.
Where's
Richard
sales
is
he
here
today
we're
where
is
I
want
to
look
at
him
in
there?
Are
you
looking
at
me
Richard
six
years
ago,
Richard
said:
are
you
gonna
quit
talking
about
it
and
do
something
valuable
ripped
it?
All
you
got
to
do
is
look
around
you,
okay,
thank
you.
C
Good
morning,
I
just
want
to
echo
chairman
Gant
and
Commissioner
Bailey's
remarks
and
and
I
think
we
everyone
in
this
room
would
agree
that
public
safety
is
is
a
it's
really,
a
sacred
trust
that
local
government,
the
elected
officials
and
government
local
government
have
to
carry
out
above
everything
else,
the
safety
of
the
men
and
women
who
go
into
fires
and
go
into
harm's
way
paramount,
and
their
Paramount
mission
is
the
safety
of
all
our
citizens.
So
this
is
job.
C
One
and
I
also
wanted
to
thank
and
build
on
Commissioner
Bailey's
remarks
and
say
not
only
thank
you
for
your
service,
but
thank
you
for
your
vision,
because
it's
it's
the
men
and
women
that
are
that
need
the
training
that
see
what's
necessary,
that
kind
of
pushed
this
envelope
and
brought
the
vision
forward.
You
had
the
vision
and
you
had
the
tenacity
to
not
let
it
die.
So
congratulations
to
you
all
for
for
making
this
day
happen
and
finally,
I'm
so
well.
I
also
wanted
to.
C
It
was
exciting
to
get
a
tour
from
the
staff
and
to
see
their
enthusiasm
and
excitement
and
in
pride
in
how
how
excelling
this
place
is
so
I
wanted
to
thank
all
our
staff
for
their
hard
work
and
their
shoulder
to
the
children
of
the
wheel
on
that.
And
finally,
it
was
wonderful
to
be
a
part
of
a
board
that
was
able
to
get
this
going,
but
we
can't
forget
that
we
live
in
such
a
great
community
that
it's,
the
citizens
who
have
paid
for
this
for
us.
C
D
Good
morning,
what
a
proud
day
in
Buncombe,
County,
I,
can't
think
of
a
spot
I
had
rather
be
or
with
people
I
had
rather
be
with
than
this
proud
group
that
I
see
around
me.
There's
not
a
group
of
folks
who
wakes
up
every
day
to
do
the
right
job
for
the
best
citizens
in
the
world
and
that's
the
citizens
of
Buncombe
County.
That's
what
county
government
is
all
about
is
making
sure
that
we
deliver
the
services
to
our
citizens
that
we
are
charged
with
delivering,
and
we
do
that
through
you
and
I
can't.
D
Thank
you
enough
and
I.
Look
around
and
I
see
the
faces
that
I
know
and
love
and
appreciate
every
day
and
I
want
you
to
know
from
the
bottom
of
my
heart
and
I.
Think
I
speak
for
every
citizen
in
Buncombe
County.
We
love
and
support
you.
We
appreciate
the
job
you
do.
We
hope
that
this
facility
will
prove
worthy
of
the
work
that
you
do
every
day
and
nothing
more
to
be
said
than
to.
Thank
you.
Thank
you
for
the
work
you
do
every
one
of
you
are
so
special
and.
D
D
Now
it
is
my
distinct
pleasure
to
introduce
to
you
a
gentleman
who
knows,
needs
no
introduction.
If
you'll
come
up
here
with
me,
Wayne,
please,
this
is
Wayne
Goodwin.
He
is
the
Commissioner
of
Insurance
here
in
North
Carolina.
He
is
also
the
chief
fire
marshal
for
the
state
of
North
Carolina.
If
there's
anybody
who
knows
training
facilities
and
good
fire
people,
it's
Wayne
Goodwin.
He
is
going
to
speak
to
you
about
how
he
feels
about
you,
folks
and
the
job
you
do,
and
the
great
facility
that
we
have
here.
D
I
would
also
like
for
you
to
know
that
his
chief
of
staff,
John
creaseman,
is
in
the
audience
John.
Would
you
raise
your
hand
please,
and
she
is
your
local
person?
If
you
ever
need
Wayne,
all
you
need
to
do
is
find
Joan
and
she's
got
him
on
speed
dial
and
she
will
make
sure
that
he
hears
what
what
he
needs
to
hear,
but
it's
my
distinct
pleasure
to
recognize
and
welcome
to
Baucom
County
Secretary
Wayne
Goodwin,
Commissioner,
Wayne
Goodwin.
E
Thank
You
Carol
for
that
for
those
warm
remarks,
it's
always
great
to
be
here
in
in
Buncombe
County
and,
of
course,
in
Asheville,
and
let
me
say
again
good
morning
mr.
good
morning,
everybody
good
morning
there
we
go
that's
better
and
what
a
beautiful
day
it
is
here
in
Western,
North
Carolina.
You
know
it
seems
like
only
yesterday
on
a
hill,
far
away
not
too
far
away.
We
were
here
for
the
the
the
groundbreaking
for
this
facility
just
seems
like
yesterday,
and
so
it's
terrific
to
join
you
speaking
of
joining
folks.
E
Also
joining
me
today
here
in
addition
to
John
creaseman,
whom
was
recognized
a
moment
ago,
are
several
folks,
I'm
recognizing
collectively
very
honored,
to
have
here
with
me
my
assistant,
State
Fire
Marshal
Tim
Bradley.
You
have
Tim
Bradley
and
my
team
on
the
Office
of
State
Fire
Marshal.
If
you'll,
please
raise
your
hands
the
whole
team
whole
team
raised
right.
E
We
have
a
number
of
number
of
folks
here
from
the
Department
of
Insurance,
but
the
office
of
State
Fire
Marshal
does
tremendous
work
as
your
state
insurance,
commissioner,
and
yes,
also
as
State
Fire,
Marshal
I'm
very
honored,
to
be
here,
as
you
celebrate
this
important
day
in
Buncombe
County
history,
you
know
today
is
a
day
in
which
all
citizens
can
be
proud.
Today
is
about
a
promise
kept.
Here's
a
word
that
we
hear
also
means
promise
covenant,
there's
a
covenant
made
whenever
this
promise
was
put
out
there
about
this
facility.
E
A
promise
was
kept
a
commitment
to
providing
exceptional
training
opportunities
for
our
Fire
and
Rescue
and
law
enforcement
personnel.
So
they
can
provide
the
top-notch
life-saving
services
to
their
communities
that
they
serve.
People
have
a
profound
appreciation
for
first
responders,
as
they
should,
especially
in
those
cases
when
they
themselves
have
been
rescued
or
assisted
by
them.
But
do
people
appreciate
all
the
time
and
energy
and
intense
training
to
which
these
brave
men
and
women
devote
themselves
before
those
critical
moments?
E
Today
we
are
here
to
say
unequivocally:
yes,
we
do.
We
do
appreciate
your
service.
We
do
appreciate
your
commitment.
We
do
appreciate
your
dedication,
your
months
and
years
of
training
and
service
to
our
communities
here
in
Buncombe
County
and
in
Western
North
Carolina,
and
we
recognize
the
importance
of
the
training
that
you
receive.
The
office
of
State
Fire
Marshal,
along
with
your
County
representatives,
are
here
today,
because
we
recognize
the
the
vital
role
that
training
plays
in
the
safety
of
not
just
our
first
responders
but
its
benefits
to
the
community
as
a
whole
and
I'm.
E
Here,
to
tell
you
that,
thanks
to
the
vision
and
to
the
dedication
of
your
County
Commissioners,
who
are
here
today
and
also
Commissioner
Stanley
and
the
County
management
staff,
today,
we
could
celebrate
the
investment
that
we
have
made
to
have
a
well-trained
firefighters
and
other
first
responders,
an
emergency
service
personnel
and
law
enforcement
officers.
Here
in
Western,
North
Carolina
the
importance
of
giving
our
fire
emergency
and
law
enforcement
professionals,
the
tools,
the
equipment
and
the
advanced
training
they
need
to
be
the
best
they
can
be
cannot
be
overstated.
Gentleman.
E
And
for
this
reason,
and
for
many
others,
the
importance
of
having
a
regional
public
safety
training
facility
in
this
part
of
North
Carolina
cannot
be
emphasized
enough.
Having
a
state-of-the-art
training
facility
like
this,
one
will
not
only
serve
the
needs
of
our
first
responders,
but
it
will
ultimately
serve
the
needs
of
all
citizens.
All
citizens
who,
at
one
time
or
another,
will
need
their
assistance.
So
this
is
a
great
day,
a
great
day
to
be
here
a
great
day
to
celebrate
a
great
day
to
be
alive
and
I'm
very
proud
to
join.
E
You
on
this
special
occasion,
I'm
also
very
proud,
and
grateful
to
have
the
opportunity
and
the
honor
to
serve
as
your
Insurance
Commissioner
and
as
our
State
Fire,
Marshal
and
I
look
forward
to
working
with
all
of
you
as
you
train
and
excel
in
your
service
to
the
people
of
the
city
of
Asheville,
Buncombe
County,
and
to
all
the
citizens
of
North
Carolina.
Thank
you.
So
much
for
all
you
do
and
may
God
continue
to
bless.
Mohkum
County
and
Western
North
Carolina.
E
E
That
organization
has
been
around
for
for
many
many
years
and
it
certainly
understands
the
value
of
training
and
the
work
that
you
do
and
phil
has
been
the
chief
now
for
four
years
of
Gastonia
I
believe
that
correct-
and
he
is
here
today
not
only
I'm
sure-
to
represent
fire
chiefs
across
the
state,
but
to
represent
the
state.
Farmers
Association
I,
look
forward
to
to
his
remarks
as
well.
Chief.
F
Thank
you
so
much,
as
commissioner
mentioned,
the
several
hats
I'm
going
to
talk
to
you
just
for
a
minute
or
two
from
a
few
different
perspectives.
First
from
the
state
firemen's
Association
on
behalf
of
the
48,000
firefighters
in
North
Carolina,
what
I
can
say
here
with
in
regards
to
training
centers
is
wow.
This
is
something
else
you
will
be.
The
envy
of
our
state
for
certain
next
thing,
I'd
like
to
do,
is
ask
our
firefighters
and
law
enforcement
to
give
your
commissioners,
your
college
and
your
community,
a
round
of
applause.
D
F
F
Throughout
my
time
there
I
got
to
be
involved
with
the
National
Fire
Protection
Association
in
the
fire
Commission,
and
on
behalf
of
all
that,
in
regards
to
your
training
center,
let
me
say
wow.
This
is
something
else.
This
is
something
to
be
proud
of.
I
was
fortunate
enough
to
go
with
the
group
to
New,
York
I
think
came
down
to
the
college,
about
6:00
or
about
7
or
8
years
ago
we
went
to
New
York
to
visit
Suffolk
County
Nassau
County
in
New
York
City
Academy
about
6
years
ago.
F
F
A
A
A
A
We
work
together.
One
of
the
reasons
Buncombe
County
is
successful.
Is
everybody
works
together?
If
this
facility
is
is
missed,
as
mr.
welch
said,
brings
you
closer
together?
We've
done
great
you're
already
top
notch.
We
hope
this
facility
brings
it
up
a
notch,
even
though
you're
about
as
high
as
I
can
imagine.
Thank
you
for
all.
You
do
thank
you
for
being
here
today
and
please
feel
free
to
tour
the
facility
and
take
time
to
enjoy
these
men
and
women
that
make
our
lives
better.
Thank
you
for
coming
today.