New West County Fire Training Building - Check it Out!

has a new training facility and Fire Safety House for community and school tours.

The building is not yet complete, but Town and Country - Manchester Patch got a sneak peek of the facility set to be finished in June. 

Deputy Chief Jeff Sadtler tells Patch construction began in December 2010 and it's funded in part by the $19 million bond issue passed by voters.

The cost is estimated at a total of $5 million for the construction of the Fire Safety House and training facility, plus additions to Fire House 2. The new buildings are located behind Fire House 2 off Manchester Road near Mason Road. 

Sadtler said the new Fire Safety House offers an interactive experience to adults and children who come through on a tour. 

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The building offers simulated fires, a fake bedroom for children to learn how to react to and escape from a fire, and even a heated bedroom door that smokes. 

There is a classroom for fire education and a mock kitchen with appliances that smoke, spark and catch fire. 

Children will also learn how to respond to a tornado in the mock bathrooms. 

The new training facility includes a 60-seat auditorium that will be used by the West County EMS and Fire Protection District and is also available to outside agencies for use.

There are also classrooms for training and the center is designed to be used as a command center during a catastrophic event. 

The training facility offers a staff car, fire truck and ambulance simulator.

Paramedics can also conduct training on patients in simulated environments including a mock living room and ambulance that is built by the manufacturer of the actual ambulances the paramedics use on real calls. 

Sadtler said the goal is to give paramedics training from the beginning to the end of a call. 

A concrete trench and confined space prop is also located on the property, so emergency crews can train in a 36 inch manhole or a 24 inch pipe.

"Regionally, we are the only ones who have it," Sadtler explained. 

Schools and community organizations, including churches, cub scouts and girl scouts are encouraged to tour the new Fire Safety House. To book a tour or for more information, email PR@wescofire.org.