WHAT:  Gwinnett County Government and Gwinnett County Public Schools officials will celebrate the opening of the Fire Training Tower at Maxwell High School of Technology with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The County provided about $530,000 from the 2009 SPLOST program, and Gwinnett County Public Schools funded the remaining $70,000 for the four-story tower. The tower will allow both students and firefighters to practice skills in response and mitigation of emergency situations in multi-story buildings. Those skills include search and rescue operations, emergency medical care, hose advancement, fire sprinkler and standpipe systems, ground and aerial ladder placements and hoisting techniques. Maxwell High School of Technology partners with the Gwinnett County Fire Department to serve students in its Fire and Emergency Services Program. Together, they provide various practical training exercises to prepare high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in this field.

WHEN:  Tuesday, Nov. 14 at noon

WHO:  Gwinnett County Fire Chief Casey Snyder will emcee the event. Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash, Gwinnett County Public Schools CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks, Maxwell High School of Technology Principal Dr. Jeff Hall, and Maxwell student Sebastian Loera Cardona will provide remarks.

WHERE: 990 McElvaney Lane NW, Lawrenceville Ga., 30044