Gene Gladin was an integral part of the Western North Carolina Fire and Rescue College. He was a valuable contributor to the education that was delivered to fire and rescue students in North Carolina, especially in the western part of the state. Gene left us suddenly last October 11 and he will be missed. (We ask everyone to keep Gene’s family and friends in their prayers.) Gene served his beloved fire and rescue service faithfully for 30+ years. He worked for the Office of State Fire Marshal until he retired and then he began a new career at Blue Ridge Community College. His impacts have been great and he has left a void in all of us that will never totally heal. A scholarship was established in Gene’s name and will be awarded with preference to a Blue Ridge Community College student with a financial need, enrolled in Emergency Medical Services or Fire and Rescue. If you would like to help with a donation to the Gene Gladin Memorial Scholarship, memorial contributions may be made to Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation, 180 West Campus Drive, Flat Rock, NC 28731. For questions, call 828-694-1710 or email brccef@blueridge.edu.

General Information
The Western North Carolina Fire and Rescue College will be held Friday through Sunday, September 18-20, 2009, at Blue Ridge Community College. Some classes will
move to nearby locations for field exercises. See the course list for those classes moving off campus during the weekend. Student will be responsible for transportation to and from all off-site class locations.
The Fire and Rescue College is designed to train Emergency Fire, Rescue, EMS, and Law Enforcement personnel. The college will teach the latest rescue and fire technology to nationally recognized standards such as current NFPA, IFSAC, NFA, IFSTA, and OSHA guidelines. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Minimum Age Requirements
All participants must be at least 16 years old. Participants ages 16 and 17 must have a signed high school release form from their principal and submit it with their registration form. PLEASE NOTE: (If release form is not submitted with the registration form, the
student will NOT be registered until release form is received. Please be aware: If student’s fees are included with other members of their department, the whole
department’s registrations will be held until the release form is received, which could jeopardized a spot in the class for each member of that department).

Cost
The fee for North Carolina residents who are members of fire departments, rescue squads, and law enforcement agencies is $20.00 (Registration fee has been waived.
Additional fee includes insurance and materials.)
The fee for out-of-state residents, or those not meeting the above eligibility criteria, is $75.00 (includes $55 registration fee, insurance and materials). There are additional certification and materials fees for the following: $50.00 for Helicopter Use in Rescue and $115 for Swiftwater Rescue.

Registration Information
Registrations should be received along with payment prior to Friday August 21, 2009. Registrations will be taken after this date; however, decisions on classes will be made on August 24. No registrations will be accepted by telephone or fax. Payment must accompany the registration form. There will be no refunds after August 24. Confirmations will be mailed by September 4, 2009.
Make checks payable to: Blue Ridge Community College and mail along with registration form to WNCFRC, Blue Ridge Community College, 180 West Campus Drive, Flat Rock, NC 28731.
For more information, call Blue Ridge Community College (828) 694-1735. We look foward to seeing you this year at the school. If you have questions please feel free to contact Jay Alley at jaya@blueridge.edu or Ricky Brown at rh_brown@blueridge.edu.