Columbus City officials broke ground Monday for an $8,600,000 firefighter training facility on the south side. The center will include a six-story, 1,672 square-foot structure for search and rescue training, high rise drills, and high angle rope rescue training. Columbus fire chief Ned Pettus says training is vital to a firefighter's abilities. "We hear in the news of tragedies involving citizens as well as firefighters, and there's nothing more that city governments and the citizens can do to help protect our firefighters than the equipment they need and the training that they need." Says Pettus.
A practical skills building will train firefighters to use ladders. They'll learn rappelling, hose advancement, and forcible entry. Completion of the center is expected in January, 2009.