City’s New Fire Training Facility Ready For Use

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2007

For additional information:
Roger Kerr, Acting Chief, Fire Department, City of Bloomington, 349-3891
Maria K. Heslin, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-3569



Bloomington, IN - Today at a ribbon cutting ceremony, Mayor Mark Kruzan announced the opening of the City of Bloomington’s new Fire Training Facility, located at 3700 S. Walnut St. The facility, part of Kruzan’s public safety initiative, provides firefighters in Bloomington and other public safety agencies in the county the opportunity to practice in a safe, realistic environment.

“This is a big step in the City’s constant commitment to public safety and well-being,” Kruzan said. “This facility will help firefighters get the training they need to not only save the lives of others, but also help preserve their own lives in dangerous situations.”

Construction of the facility in addition to other public safety priorities, were announced during the annual State of the City address earlier this year.

The facility is a four-story structure that contains live-fire burn rooms on two floors. It will allow trainees to practice techniques such as laddering, forcible entry, stand pipe connections and repelling. Constructed of metal, the facility is equipped with special burn panels that are designed to handle repeated heat exposure.

Acting Fire Chief Roger Kerr said he is excited about the opportunities this new facility brings to Bloomington.

“The live fire training facility is a huge step forward for the department and public safety,” Kerr said. “Mayor Kruzan committed to improving the training opportunities for not only the City’s Fire Department but also the City of Bloomington Police Department that up until now had only been talked about. The Training Tower has been needed since as early as the 1950s and I thank the mayor for making it happen and his continued commitment to public safety.”

For more information about the new fire training facility and other fire-related initiatives, contact the City of Bloomington Fire Department at 349-9763.


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