York Co. firefighters honor traditions with opening of new training center
A fire hose weaves its way through the hands of people whose task it is to quench burning buildings and save lives.
On Saturday, the hose was empty.
Firefighters, York County leaders and guests formed long lines and held fire hoses in an “uncoupling of a hose” ceremony – a 100-year-old tradition – to commemorate the grand opening of the county’s Anna K. Hubbard Fire Training Center on McFarland Road, southeast of York.
The center’s namesake, Anna Hubbard Moore, is the late assistant county manager who was shot to death in her home on July 5, along with her son and his girlfriend by Moore’s husband in a case authorities determined to be a triple murder-suicide.
Moore was instrumental in the planning of the center, which took years to design and build, said David Hord, chairman of the York County Board of Rural Fire Control for York County.
“We all know that she was a great individual and supporter of the fire service,” Hord said. “This was Anna’s last project.”
The new location offers training for fire fighters in surrounding counties and in the fire training industry. The center has large classrooms with projection screen televisions and a library.
Courses vary from fundamentals of fire fighting to what to do when responding to utility emergencies, emergency vehicle driver training, hazardous materials and basic auto extrication.
York County operated the center at an Ogden Road location in Rock Hill for more than 30 years.
The new location includes two separate training towers and fire bays to house engines for maintenance.
“Today we begin to service our vehicles and our minds,” Hord said.
Dozens of firefighters and officials gathered around a large fire truckand used their body weight to push it into one of the bays as an official christening to the new shop.
At the grand opening, members of Moore’s family sat on the front row, wiping away tears as fthe the center was dedicated in her honor. As a keepsake, the family will keep a hard hat and shovel Moore used during the groundbreaking ceremony.
Moore’s family requested the center leave off her married name and use her maiden name instead, Hord said.
“She was good at what she did, always did things with a smile on her face,” said Moore’s daughter Sara Golden. “She was an amazing person, a wonderful woman.”
This story was originally published February 6, 2016 at 6:05 PM with the headline "York Co. firefighters honor traditions with opening of new training center."