Eureka City Fire Chief Luke Westerman announced during a recent city council meeting that the department was once again a recipient of funding through the Tim Underwood Memorial. Westerman explained that live training opportunities don’t come by often, and shared intentions for constructing a training structure with those dollars.
Though neighboring communities have offered use of their facilities for training, Westerman noted that taking 5 to10 firefighters would leave a gap within coverage for the city.
Two recent trainings, one live fire and one for skills, were conducted utilizing dilapidated structures. Complexity and challenges come with utilizing these for fire training.
In efforts to provide more local training opportunities for firefighters, the department submitted a request to the Tim Underwood Memorial and have been named an award recipient of a grant for the amount of $18,000.
With the construction of this facility, the fire department will also have opportunities to bring a representative from the KU Fire and Rescue Institute to teach and Westerman also noted that the Fire Science instructor at Butler Community College is willing to come over as well.
After referencing cost that would be associated with purchasing a shipping container structure through companies such as FTS Fire Training Structures LLC (fabricator of the structure pictured), for an estimated cost of over $100,000 for a turn-key facility, Westerman expressed intentions of building a structure. He noted that many firefighters possess capabilities that make constructing a facility inhouse feasible.
With the grant award, three 40-foot and one 20foot container will be purchased for $11,550. The remainder of dollars awarded will be used towards items such as railings, stairs and windows for the facility.
Westerman has been in discussion with Greenwood County in regards to provision of aid in the project, for excavator work and potential provision of concrete around the facility.
The department plans to construct the structure on the west side of the city mixing grounds, located southeast of town on 140th Street. This location is already outfitted with a hydrant on the lot, something that is needed for a training facility and offers the added benefit of existing fencing, allowing for the structure to be enclosed within it.
The accompanying photo showcases a similar design to that being constructed. Westerman noted that they have no plans for constructing the balcony pictured on top of the facility. Included within the ISO rating process, conducted every five years gauging a department’s ability to respond within their jurisdiction, is a three-story training structure.
As this item was being considered, the department formed a committee to complete needed leg work. Westerman also commented that the Tim Underwood Memorial has been a great benefit to the department.
( Courtesy photo)
