GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Northeast Wisconsin firefighters now have a new place to train.
A ribbon-cutting was held Monday morning for a new burn tower at NWTC Green Bay’s Public Safety Training Center.
Associate Dean of Public Safety John Flannery says the four-story building will allow for a variety of instruction.
“It simulates burning in structures. It simulates a basement fire. It simulates like a garage fire. It has recessed balconies, which allows firefighters to practice responding to a high-level apartment complex or a hotel.”
Flannery notes the new tower offers multiple features that the one that recently came down did not.
“You can set multiple fires on different floors of the tower so the trainees can go into these different areas to do search and rescue. We can do confined space training, so we have an elevator shaft that they’re able to practice in.”
In addition, Flannery says the new facility allows for training in wrappling down the side of a building.
According to Flannery, the 98 fire agencies in the district can start booking the facility immediately for a minimal-to-low cost.
He notes the tower was funded by taxpayer dollars approved in a recent referendum. It cost roughly $1.1-million dollars.
The Public Safety Training Center is located at 2565 Larsen Road.
