A class, "Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings" will be offered twice at each of the four campuses of New River Community and Technical College during July and August.

Presented in partnership with the WV State Fire Marshall Office and West Virginia University Fire Service Extension, the class is part of a series of classes to be offered on all four campuses

The program will be offered at 8:30 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. on campuses at Beckley, July 28; Bluefield, July 27; Greenbrier Valley at Lewisburg, Aug. 3; and Nicholas County at Summersville Aug. 4.

The series of continuing education programs for professionals involved in the emergency management and response fields.

To prepare emergency responders to perform effectively during incidents of terrorism involving energetic materials (explosives and incendiaries), the program is designed for professionals in law enforcement, WV Regional Response members; Upper Level Fire Officials, EMS officials, members of safety or emergency response committees at local hospitals or other emergency response professionals.

The course is approved for 3.2 hours of continuing education through the WV Division of Criminal Justice Services and Highway Safety and will be offered at no charge.

Instructor for the program is Charles Vannatter, assistant fire marshall for WV. Vanatter has completed several programs in emergency management training and most recently was certified as a trainer in this program through the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.

For more information on the program or to register, eligible emergency response professionals should contact the Center for Business and Workforce Development on the Beckley Campus at 1-304-255-5812; Bluefield Campus, 304-327-4071; Greenbrier Valley Campus, 304-647-6570; or Nicholas County Campus, 304-872-4520.

The courses are open to the eligible emergency response professionals in central and southeastern WV as well as neighboring areas of Virginia.

July 20, 2005

Submitted by Mike Williams