The Board of Supervisors approved Monday building a county-wide fire training facility at the Marion County BusinessPlex.
Plans include burn boxes, a rappel wall and a motor vehicle to be used in training.
It’s a partnership between Marion County’s volunteer fire departments and the Columbia Fire Department, and Morgantown Fire Chief Krae Morgan said the goal is for the facility to be operational by the first of the year.
Aaron Greer, emergency management director, approached supervisors Monday with the request and said it would help fire ratings throughout the county.
“We would love to have it on county property,” Greer said.
Morgan said the location of the fire training facility near the law enforcement academy would be perfect.
“Even though it would mainly be used for fire service, they could use it during law enforcement training for tactical operations, practicing and rappelling on the rappel wall,” Morgan said.
One of the reasons the BusinessPlex was picked as the location was so the city fire department could train, but it is also close enough in case a response can be made to a call.
At the June 18 Board of Aldermen meeting, the city approved up to $5,000 to be used for the facility. All the volunteer fire departments in the county have agreed to provide $3,000 as well.
Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department Board President Dewayne Stuckey said, “The city is probably going to be the main maintenance provider so it would be convenient for them.”
Pictured Above: Krae Morgan, Morgantown fire chief, speaks at a Marion County Board of Supervisors meeting Monday as Tyler Creel, left, and Dewayne Stuckey, right, of Tri-Community look on. | Photo by Susan Amundson
