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| Ronnie McMahan of Black Mountain (left) oversees the mass feeding operation for Southern Baptist Convention’s N.C. Baptist Men and Women on Mission and is pictured here with Doug Winn, the food unit leader for the U.S. Forest Service Monday at SCC’s Public Safety Training Center in Franklin. |
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| An aerial view of the feeding tents set up by the Southern Baptist Convention’s N.C. Baptist Men and Women on Mission Monday at SCC’s Public Safety Training Center in Franklin. |
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| Greg Brooks with the U.S. Forest Service shows SCC’s Cliff Stalter a map of the Tellico fire Monday in Franklin |
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| Becky Galloway of Andrews stirs some potatoes in preparation for the first dinner to be served to U.S. Forest Service firefighters Monday at SCC’s Public Safety Training Center in Franklin. |
While fighting the worst rash of wildfires on record in the 13-state southern region, the U.S. Forest Service is getting logistical support from Southwestern Community College’s Public Safety Training Center.
The USFS has its Incident Command Post in the Macon County Industrial Park, adjacent to SCC’s facilities . The N.C. Baptist Men and Women on Mission are feeding roughly 500 firefighters at the college's Driver Safety Training Range, and the USFS is basing its heavy equipment at the PSTC’s property.
SCC is also making its shower facilities available to the firefighters.
“It’s been tremendous for us to already have a relationship in place with SCC and the folks at the Public Safety Training Center,” said Greg Brooks, the Franklin-based district fire management officer for the Nantahala Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service. “We’ve met regularly with Curtis and his staff for years. That pre-work helps make this relationship work so well.”
As of Monday, the USFS had more than 500 firefighters representing 41 states fighting 20 forest fires in Jackson, Macon and Swain counties – the service area of both SCC and the Nantahala Ranger District – as well as Clay County.
Doug Winn, the USFS food unit leader, said he’s been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from SCC and others in the region.
“Having this space (at the PSTC) has been pretty essential,” said Winn, who’s from Northern California. “Considering all the equipment we need to set up, we need a pretty good footprint. … As an outsider, I’m impressed with the hospitality of the North Carolina people - the community support and the donations pouring in. Out West, usually we’re having to negotiate a fair price. But here, people are donating time and services.”
In addition to providing logistical support for the USFS firefighters, SCC also ensured that area volunteer fire departments were adequately trained to assist in attempts to contain the outbreak of wildfires.
Brooks said the USFS has utilized the services of most area fire departments in recent weeks and will continue to do so.
“It is our honor to help in some way to make sure these warriors have a safe place to eat a meal and a comfortable place to take a shower,” said Curtis Dowdle, SCC’s dean of public safety training. “We are grateful for their courage in fighting these wildfires and protecting the land and homes of our area residents.”
