The Tri-Cities Training Facility has reached its first phase of completion and is now able to be used by firefighters across Jefferson County.
On approximately five acres of land, there is now a training tower. The tower is three stories and can provide first responders the ability to practice skills and get hands on training, using real-life scenarios.
The tower is named after Battalion Chief Brandon Dahlen with Center Point Fire District. It's CPFD's facility, but other area fire districts and departments are able to use the facility to train, even alongside one another from other stations.
"This is going to bring training closer to home to this community. It's going to give first responders the ability to get this training without having to travel. It will allow the departments to minimize the costs related to travel and the time first responders are actually away from their department or community as well," said Dahlen.
A fire can double in size every 30 seconds, so practicing real life scenarios is critical, especially when it comes to saving a life. Firefighters are able to simulate those types of scenarios using a practice dummy that weighs more than 100 pounds.
Crews are also able to practice a variety of firefighter techniques, including search and rescue, breaching and suppression.
"Some of those bad, extremely bad, hazardous calls don’t happen as often, so if you don’t train on them constantly, when something happens that could be one of our lives, the person we are trying to save," said Chief Justin McKenzie of Fultondale Fire and Rescue. "What people don’t realize, unlike the commercials, when you go into a house full of fire, you can't see in front of your face, it's black smoke, you have to feel your way around.”
Firefighters train inside the tower in the dark to get muscle memory of how to go in to a building, how to search, and how to find and put out a fire. McKenzie explained by getting the practice and training in, firefighters won't hesitate when an emergency happens.
It also helps area firefighters work together, since in some cases, calls require mutual aid.
"The big thing about Center Point, we run a lot of calls in Center Point. A lot of our coverage is merged in certain areas, so for us to maintain the requirements for training and for us to train together, that way when something bad does happen, we know what to expect and how to run with each other," said McKenzie. "That training facility is right outside the City of Fultondale, so it's easy for us to go train with them."
Since the training facility is nearby, McKenzie also said it allows the opportunity to practice those skills during shifts.
Dahlen agreed, pointing out the need to work together.
“Recruitment is down, retention is down," he said. "So working with less people, working more, we are relying on our neighboring departments more now."
Dahlen said the facility is only going to help firefighters learn to work side by side, and better assist the people they are there to serve.
"The people there that need you, they don't want you to show up and not be ready," said Dahlen. "It's their worst day, they need someone to help them, not show up and make it worse of confuse them. Having this will only help create better relationships, increase our efficiency, working together.”
Dahlen also explained while there is a challenge recruiting people to do this job, the training facility can be used to help address that issue in Jefferson County. He said they can get fire explorers, boy scouts, and other groups into the facility to see what the job is about.
“We're hoping this might increase awareness. They see the facility and see what the job is actually like and entails," said Dahlen.
Certification courses will also be offered at the facility.
Firefighters in Alabama are required to undergo 360 hours of certified training before being awarded a firefighter 1 certificate. That's just the basic level, however there are specialty categories that require additional training. All of these courses are outlined by the Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa. While it's a great resource, the Alabama Fire College strongly supports local facilities, like the one in Pinson, that meet state standards.