Sussex County Community College receives $10K grant to enhance fire science training
NEWTON, N.J. (Sussex County) — Sussex County Community College (SCCC) has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Carolyn Jane Scott Charitable Trust to support its Fire Behavior & Thermal Imaging Training Enhancement Project.
The funding will be used to purchase specialized instructional and investigative equipment to enhance the college’s Fire Science and Criminal Justice programs.
As part of the project, SCCC plans to purchase and convert a 10-foot shipping container into a furnished-room burn cell, allowing students to participate in controlled live-fire demonstrations and post-fire investigative scenarios involving fire and explosion investigations.
“SCCC has a strong history of providing accredited Fire Science and Criminal Justice programs. This project builds on that foundation by expanding hands-on training opportunities and introducing advanced investigative resources that meet today’s professional standards. The addition of a furnished-room burn cell and modern investigative equipment represents an important investment in practical education to train skilled public safety professionals,” said Gary Crift, Director of the Sussex County Public Safety Training Academy.
The burn cell and associated training equipment will allow students to observe and analyze fire development, heat release, smoke movement, ventilation effects and fire patterns.
Students will also conduct systematic investigations to determine the origin and cause of fires using nationally recognized investigative methods.
The college’s Fire Science Technology program covers several areas of fire safety and investigation, including fire behavior, combustion dynamics, fire prevention tactics and hazardous materials response.
Much of the program’s practical instruction takes place at the Sussex County Public Safety Training Academy, where students participate in real-world simulations designed to reduce complacency and minimize injuries and property damage in the line of duty.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Carolyn Jane Scott Charitable Trust for their continued generosity in supporting our academic programs and our community’s safety,” said Stan Kula, Executive Director of the SCCC Foundation. “This funding will provide our Fire Science students with access to advanced equipment and hands-on training opportunities, helping them develop the knowledge, investigative skills, and real-world experience.”
College officials said the grant will further strengthen SCCC’s role as a regional training center for first responders by expanding access to hands-on education and advanced investigative resources.
