RCC Selected as One of 15 Sites Nationwide for Hazmat Training
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 8, 2026
LUMBERTON, N.C. — Robeson Community College’s Emergency Services Training Center has been selected as one of just 15 sites nationwide to participate in a new hazardous materials training initiative designed to strengthen emergency preparedness and response in communities across the country.
The free training is being offered through the Partners in Training (PIT) Crew program, an initiative of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and the U.S Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
Through the train-the-trainer program, participants will gain specialized knowledge and resources they can take back to their departments and communities to help prepare other responders for hazardous materials incidents.
The training is open to first responders, government officials and individuals working in the general field of hazardous materials. Participants do not have to be current fire instructors to attend. Anyone interested in teaching others within their department or community about the safe hazardous materials response is encourage to participate.
The training will take place Saturday, September 12, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Lumberton Central Fire Station. Registration is required at Course Registration – Lumberton, NC Participants will receive instruction in two areas:
- Instructor Training for Ammonia – 3 hours
- Instructor Training for Chlorine – 3 hours
“Robeson Community College is grateful for the opportunity to bring this specialized training to our area and make it available to our first responders,” said Steve West, Director of Fire Rescue Training at Robeson Community College. “Thanks to this new program from the NVFC and PHMSA, responders can take an active role in helping their departments and communities become better prepared to respond safely in the event of a hazardous materials incident.”
Hazardous materials incidents can pose significant risks to responders and the communities they serve, making proper preparation and training critical. The PIT Crew program was crated to expand access to hazmat education by equipping participants to train others within their departments and regions.
The program offers courses ranging from three to seven hours and covers topics including hazmat fundamentals, scenario- and risk-based response, basic decontamination, and instructor training involving specific hazardous substances such as ammonia, chlorine, methanol and vinyl chloride. Learn more about the PIT Crew program at www.nvfc.org/hazmat/.
About the National Volunteer Fire Council
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, emergency medical, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national rea and provides critical advocacy, resources, programs and education for first responders across the nation. Learn more at http://www.nvfc.org/.
For media inquiries, please contact Courtney Jacobs, Executive Director of Governance and Marketing, at 910-272-3231 or cjacobs@robeson.edu.
