San Angelo fire training center finished, ready for action
SAN ANGELO — The San Angelo Fire Department's new $4.4 million Fire Training Center, at 3154 U.S. 67 North, is ready to be put to the test. The city provided $3.2 million in funding and the rest was covered by an Economic Development Administration grant.
To celebrate, the City is hosting a grand opening on Friday, March 10, and providing tours for public 2-4 p.m.
Fire Chief Brian Dunn said he can't wait to get his training staff and equipment moved in. "We'll have a state-of-the-art facility, which will allow us to train at the level we need to," he said. "Between the medical and fire training, my guys do about 80 hours minimum of training a year."
The new center — at about 13,000-square-feet — is decidedly bigger. The older training facility, on Avenue K near the river, was about 4,000 square-feet and nearly 50 years old.
"We're significantly larger than we were 50 years ago and do a lot more things," Dunn said.
The city hopes to use the new center as a training facility for fire departments from across the 13-county Concho Valley area. Tom Green County alone has 10 volunteer fire departments, Dunn said. He added that they will bring in instructors from the Texas Engineering Extension Service. Depending on the training, the facility may also be used by Goodfellow Air Force Base firefighters.
Once the move is complete and all the technology is hooked up, the city will take possession of the old building. City Manager Daniel Valenzuela said there are no plans for it yet.
IF YOU GO
What: Grand opening of the San Angelo Fire Department's new Fire Training Center
When: 2-4 p.m. Friday, March 10
Where: 3154 U.S. 67 North, behind the San Angelo Animal Shelter
What else: The public is invited. Refreshments and tours will be provided.
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