UTC Building & Industrial Systems Donates $50,000 in Funding and Equipment for New Fire Training Facility
UTC Building & Industrial Systems has donated $20,000 and has pledged an additional $30,000 in cash and fire safety equipment to the Farmington and Avon fire departments in support of their effort to build a new live fire training facility. UTC Building & Industrial Systems, the world's largest provider of building technologies, including fire safety products, is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
The proposed facility is a joint effort between the Town of Farmington Fire Department and the Avon Volunteer Fire Department. It will be located off of Route 4 in Farmington.
"Currently, the nearest available live fire training facility is located at the Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks," said Jamie DiPace, retired chief and fire training facility fundraising co-chairman, Avon Volunteer Fire Department. "Our goal is to provide a local facility for fire training where volunteers can work in a realistic setting to improve skill level and safety for firefighters and residents."
"Historically, there were no suitable locations in Farmington or surrounding towns for live fire or other hands-on training. Training was often simulated to prevent damage to structures in town," Mary-Ellen Harper, director of fire and rescue services, Town of Farmington, said. "Once up and running, the facility will allow a crew of fire fighters to report to the training ground, get valuable experience, and be back in service in a reasonable amount of time."
In addition to a $20,000 cash donation in 2014, UTC Building & Industrial Systems will donate an additional $30,000 in cash and Kidde fire safety equipment, including smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Kidde, a leading manufacturer of residential smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers, is part of UTC Building & Industrial Systems.
"These firefighters are our neighbors, and they put their lives on the line to protect us and our families," said Jim Ward, president, Kidde. "When we think about improving the communities in which we work and live, I can't think of a better way than to help ensure the safety of these men and women and the people they serve."
Construction of the fire training facility is expected to be completed in 2015. For more information about the training facility, visit www.avonvfd.org or www.Farmington-CT.org. For more information about UTC Building & Industrial Systems, visit www.BIS.UTC.com or follow @UTCBIS and @KiddeSafety on Twitter.
About UTC Building & Industrial Systems
UTC Building & Industrial Systems is the world's largest provider of building technologies. Its elevator, escalator, fire-safety, security, building automation, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems and services promote integrated, high-performance buildings that are safer, smarter and sustainable. UTC Building & Industrial Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.BIS.UTC.com or follow @UTCBIS on Twitter.