SANFORD - Nine students graduated from Central Carolina Community College's Fire Academy on Monday, March 20, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.

Chief Hampton Williams, CCCC Fire/Rescue Coordinator, was the keynote speaker.

The Fire Academy graduates and their sponsoring departments are: Daniel Chandler (Carolina Trace Fire Department), Spencer Fallin (Deep River Fire Department), Dallas Faulk (Northwest Pocket Fire Department), Justin Gaster (Northwest Pocket Fire Department), Austin Gribble (Northwest Pocket Fire Department), Brent Hilliard (Northwest Pocket Fire Department), Cam Jaynes, Madison Perry (Moncure Fire Department), and Joshua Ragan (Northwest Harnett Fire Department).

Cadets receiving awards were: Justin Gaster (Northwest Pocket Fire Department), Most Improved Award; and Daniel Chandler (Carolina Trace Fire Department), Valedictorian Award and Captain's Award.

The Academy is a rigorous and challenging program of more than 1,000 hours of study and practice in fire and EMS emergency scenarios. The cadets completed rigorous and intensive training in fire fighting, safety and survival, physical agility, and emergency medical services at the college's Emergency Services Training Center.

Chief Hampton Williams is CCCC Fire/Rescue Coordinator. Lieutenant Tim Houston is Fire Academy Coordinator. Capt. Tramp Dunn (Ret.) is Fire Training Advisor.

CCCC began offering fire fighter training classes in 1964. In 2001, the Emergency Services Training Center was established at the former Sanford/Lee County Airport site in Sanford, providing greatly expanded facilities for training.

Since then, a new classroom building, Class-A burn building, 40-foot rescue training tower and other facilities have been added at the 116-acre site. The Fire Academy opened in January 2010. The ESTC is part of the college's Economic and Community Development Division.

For information on CCCC's Fire Academy, contact the CCCC Fire and Rescue Coordinator at 919-777-7778.