HUNTSVILLE — Huntsville first responders now have the opportunity to train in a cutting-edge facility to better prepare them for scenarios they may encounter while serving the community.
“The residents of Huntsville deserve to have the best trained police officers and firefighters and the city works toward that objective every day,” Mayor Tommy Battle said at Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting for the Huntsville Public Safety Training Academy. “Facilities like this are a critical part of that training, providing a place to put into action what has been learned in the classroom.”
The $18.6 million project includes a 600-foot-by-600-foot lighted driving course for police officers’ certification, a quarter-mile track and field area for HPD’s agility and fitness course, three outdoor pavilion classrooms, and an expansion of the K9 training area.
“People count on us for protection and this investment gives our department the training and tools we need to do our job well,” said Police Chief Kirk Giles. “Thank you to the Mayor and City Council for supporting our department with this new facility.
“It’s a big step that helps us stay ready and effective in serving our community.”
The Huntsville Fire & Rescue training area features a 60-foot burn tower, a 74-foot rescue and rappel tower, an 8,400-square-foot configurable building to simulate firefighting scenarios, a 9,010-square-foot maintenance and pump test building, a 6,400-square-foot storage building, and a simulated streetscape driving course.
“This facility is a tremendous asset to prepare our firefighters to respond quickly and efficiently,” Fire Chief Howard McFarlen said. “The versality of the buildings allows us to create almost any setting that our firefighters may face. HFR is grateful to Mayor Battle and the City Council for their support.”
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