The MD of Foothills agreed to pay for half of a facility that will allow firefighters to train locally, but still need to see if they will have the funding to do it this year.
The proposed regional firefighter training facility moved one step closer to reality after MD of Foothills council agreed to share the cost to build the facility with the Town of High River.
However, councillors first want to ensure there will be money in this year’s budget for the project.
“They’re looking at the potential right now to see if the dollars are there through the provincial government’s MSI grant program,” said MD fire chief Jim Smith. “This is a go ahead as long as the budgetary dollars are there.”
Smith said it will also be good for local fire departments in the foothills area to be able to train their personnel as they grow in the coming years.
“This will be really good moving forward because we will be able to train locally,” he said. “We can give full-time training for our volunteers.”
The facility is proposed for the Aldersyde corridor, near the Cargill Foods Ltd. plant.
The first phase will include a three-storey tower to learn how to fight fires in tall buildings, rescues, ladder work and rope repelling. It will also have classroom facilities and a house that will be used to learn investigation techniques to determine the cause of a fire. A cement pad will be built where trainees can put out burning cars and practice how to extract people from smashed vehicles. There will also be a liquid fire and dangerous goods training area. Future phases could include a driver-training course or additions to existing facilities.
The first phase will cost $850,000 to build, which will be split between the Town and the MD. He said the facility could also be rented out to other departments and private industry to raise revenues to help cover operational costs.
At present, Smith said the MD’s firefighters are sent to training facilities in Brooks, Lethbridge or Calgary. He said it costs money to rent the facilities, for transportation and accommodation. He said the MD paid $10,000 last year to rent the Lethbridge facility for four weekends, plus transportation and accommodation.
As well, Smith said it takes firefighters out of the region for extended periods of time.
“It (the new facility) keeps firefighters in town, or in the area in case something does erupt and then we can go straight from the training site to wherever they’re needed,” he said.
High River fire chief Len Zebedee said the Town of High River had budgeted $300,000 for the facility and added they have plans to start some work on the facility this year. Whether the MD’s contribution comes this year or next year, he said MD council’s support will give the plans a significant boost.
“To move forward with this project in this area will be just tremendous,” said Zebedee.
Zebedee said it will make a big difference to have a local facility to train firefighters across the foothills to the same level.
Okotoks fire chief Ken Thevenot said the Town will not be a partner on the project.
He said the Town uses the City of Calgary’s training centre and they plan on going there next month and in the fall.
Thevenot said it’s not determined whether or not Okotoks personnel will use the foothills facility once it’s open. He said he will want to take a look at the facility before a decision is made.
