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Lake Technical Awarded Grant

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Lake Technical Center was awarded a $285,818 grant from the Florida Department of Education that was funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and Florida Fiscal Stabilization funds for Workforce Education. The grant was used to update the technology and equipment in the Institute of Public Safety’s Firefighting burn building to enhance training for students and firefighters enrolling in continuing education. Fire Blast, a California company, handled the renovations in the kitchen and bedroom burn rooms. The newly installed technology is based on National Fire Protection Association Standards 1402 and 1403 that are mandated by the State of Florida Bureau of Fire Standards and Training.

Eight instructors, two of whom are graduates of the Firefighting program, will receive training on the new equipment and technology on July 28th. In the searing heat of the afternoon, the instructors will don full fire bunker gear and air packs to enter the renovated burn rooms that will reach temperatures of 500-600 degrees.

The Firefighting program has successfully trained students since 1982 when the program began on Lake Technical Center’s main campus in Eustis. The program moved to the Institute of Public Safety in 1994. New students will begin their training in August. The day class begins August 16th and the evening class begins August 23rd.

Lake Technical Center is a public postsecondary institution that offers high quality affordable training. Lake Technical Center is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, 7840 Roswell Road, Building 300, Suite 325, Atlanta, GA 30350, (800) 917-2081. Most programs are approved for VA. Eligible veterans may be certified through the Financial Aid Office. Lake Tech is an equal opportunity institution. The Lake Express bus service stops at the front of the main campus located at 2001 Kurt St., Eustis, FL. The Institute of Public Safety is located at 1565 Lane Park Cutoff, Tavares, (352) 742-6463. Questions may be answered by visiting www.laketech.org or calling (352) 589-2250.