A new fire training center nearly a decade in the making opens in north Tulsa.
The state-of-the-art Tulsa Fire Safety Training Center sits on 40 acres at Tulsa Community College's northeast campus and includes a six-story drill tower and a fire station. City Councilor Jack Henderson is proud to have it in his district.
"When I drive by here now, I won't see the vacant fields and I won't see the cows pasturing," Henderson said. "I'll be able to look over and see this training center that I know will touch so many people's lives and will train people from all over this country."
Tulsa Fire will host training for other fire departments at the new facility. It replaces a training center in use since 1952.
It’s designed to simulate real conditions firefighters will face, including gas-fired props that produce realistic fires.
"Training has changed over the years," said Tulsa Fire Chief Ray Driskell. "Where before, in that old building, when I came on 30 years ago, you got put on the bottom floor, they lit some mattresses on fire and shut the door, and said, 'If you come out, you can go home.'"
The training center also includes a special operations building that stores equipment for search and rescue and hazardous materials situations.
The total cost of roughly $18 million was split among TCC, 2005 general obligation bonds and city sales tax. Driskell said there’s more to come, and that will likely be worked into a coming public safety tax proposal.
"Folks, this is only phase one of a project that's got four phases, and the other three are just as important as this initial phase," Driskell told those in attendance. "So, we hope that we can get your support."
The next phase could include a swift water rescue simulator, a small city of additional buildings and a pit in which to mimic aircraft fires.
