FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 6, 2006

HACU Member part of new state-of-the-art training facility

San Bernardino, CA – Dr. Antonio R. Flores, President and CEO of HACU, attended the Grand Opening of the Jerry Lewis San Bernardino Regional Emergency Training Center on Thursday, June 1, at San Bernardino, CA.

The keynote speaker for the event was the Honorable Jerry Lewis, who was joined by Mr. William C. Withycombe, FAA Western-Pacific Region Administrator; the Honorable Josie Gonzales, County Board of Supervisors; and the Honorable Pat Morris, Mayor of San Bernardino.

(l-r) Frank Reyes, Governmental Relations, San Bernardino Community College District; the Honorable Jerry Lewis; Antonio R. Flores, President and CEO of HACU

Crafton Hills College, a campus of HACU member San Bernardino Community College District, working jointly with the San Bernardino County Fire Department, will oversee the educational component of the program.  The Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Facility will be used for training in the proper tactics for fighting aircraft interior and exterior fires and proper rescue techniques for such emergencies.  In addition to an administration building with classrooms, the center utilizes a state of the art computerized live propane simulator.  Propane fuel is used for training fires to minimize environmental hazards.

“San Bernardino International Airport is the perfect location for a new world-class training facility that will ensure firefighters are ready to take on the unique problems of an aviation fire,” said Lewis, who represents the airport and helped secure federal grants for the project. “I am proud to work with the San Bernardino Community College District and the city and county on this fabulous project, and I have no doubt it will improve safety at airports throughout California and the West.”

“HACU is proud of the part Crafton Hills College and the San Bernardino Community College District will play in the success of this new training facility,” said Antonio Flores.  “It is exciting to see a HACU member district step up to this important new service.”

The Jerry Lewis San Bernardino Regional Emergency Training Center is made possible by a $12 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  This state-of-the-art facility is the result of a collaboration and partnership efforts of the San Bernardino Community College District, Crafton Hills College, County of San Bernardino Fire Department, City of San Bernardino Fire Department, the Inland Valley Development Agency (IVDA), the San Bernardino International Airport Authority, and the Office of Congressman Jerry Lewis.

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