The Columbia Board of Aldermen approved a new countywide training facility for firefighters at the Marion County BusinessPlex Tuesday.
Deputy Chief Lyle Berard of the Columbia Fire Department requested that the city contribute up to $5,000 toward the project, which aldermen did.
The training facility is being proposed to be built at the former Columbia Training School, although Berard said it’s still in the preliminary stages.
“This is something we have been talking about for a while, and it will improve our fire rating,” he said.
Alderman Edward Hough asked if this replaces the State Fire Academy in Jackson. Berard advised this is for additional training.
“Every year we are supposed to get a certain amount of training hours. Our guys and girls want training. This will provide that for them,” he said.
Berard added the county volunteer fire departments have each committed to $3,000. The city is paying more because the city will mostly likely use it more than the county fire departments, he said.
“This is a win for the entire county,” Alderman Jason Stringer said.
