In the early morning hours of August 19, 2000, an extended family of 12 - including several small children - was struck down unexpectedly by a pipeline explosion south of Carlsbad, New Mexico.

The tragic incident called together the resources of career and volunteer fire agencies from across south Eddy County, as well as law enforcement officers and entities within the pipeline industry.

The heart-wrenching accident left the community stunned and those who responded dealing with the aftermath. While no one could ever be truly prepared to face a situation like this, the surviving family sought to thank those who had helped in their worst time of need by creating a training center that would ensure those responders were ready for any future such catastrophe.

Through their generosity, the dream of a regional fire training center was born. A committee of fire service and industry experts began the arduous task of designing the center - traveling across the United States to visit similar training academies for inspiration. Funding was provided through a $10 million endowment from the family.

With state-of-the-art live-fire simulators for LPG emergencies, structural firefighting and hazardous materials situations, among others - and soon to house the world’s only wildland-based live-fire simulator - that dream, Permian Basin Regional Training Center, has become a reality.