Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 1 opened a new facility on Calvary Road that officials said is designed to support both firefighter training and daily operations as the district continues to grow.
During the March 27 grand opening, Assistant Chief Kirk Bailey said the site will help crews train for the kinds of emergencies they see across the district’s roughly 200-square-mile service area, where fire hydrants are not always available.
At a glance
Bailey said the facility includes a five-story burn tower built to simulate a range of structures, from manufactured homes to commercial buildings, along with features for ladder training, rope rescue and drafting water.
The site also includes an outdoor classroom, indoor classroom space, locker rooms and dorm areas for firefighters and staff, he said.
District staff said the training schedule already includes 15 months of planned instruction. Officials also said the site supports multiple specialty programs, including firefighting, emergency medical services, dive team operations, trench rescue and structural collapse response.
What they’re saying
District staff said the district has grown from 88 personnel to 143 over the last three and a half years, and that the new site is intended to help meet staffing and training needs year-round.
Staff said seven to 11 people are expected to be at the facility daily under normal operations, with more on-site during academy training.
In case you missed it
Rather than a traditional ribbon-cutting, the district marked the opening with what officials called a “hose uncoupling,” a fire service-themed ceremony held as community members toured the building.