Broken ground on training tower in case of fire

On May 28, the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Fire Marshal (SFM) officially broke ground on a five-story search and rescue training tower located on the SFM Ohio Fire Academy campus in Reynoldsburg. This groundbreaking marks the beginning of a significant step forward in the future of fire and EMS training in Ohio.

The $16.7 million facility is designed to provide fire and EMS students with a controlled, realistic training environment for a wide range of rescue scenarios. When completed in approximately 18 months, the structure will provide comprehensive training opportunities critical to preparing Ohio firefighters for high-altitude rescues and complex emergency scenarios.

“The Ohio Fire Academy has made tremendous strides in providing comprehensive training opportunities for our brave first responders,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “This new search and rescue training center will ensure our firefighters receive a realistic training experience to develop their skills to respond to emergencies in our communities.

“This training tower represents a monumental step forward in our mission to equip Ohio's firefighters and EMS personnel with the skills and experience they need to save lives,” said Ohio State Fire Marshal State, Kevin Reardon. “By providing a realistic, versatile training environment, we are investing in the safety of Ohioans and the preparation of our courageous first responders.”

At the groundbreaking, Reardon unveiled a detailed tabletop model highlighting SFM's vision for a next-generation firefighting training campus to benefit Ohio's firefighting community.

“This new training tower is just the beginning,” Reardon said. “Our vision for the training campus of the future includes state-of-the-art facilities that will keep our firefighters at the forefront of modern emergency response. We are excited about the opportunities that continued investment will provide for our fire community in the future, as we remain committed to continually improving our training capabilities in ways that help ensure the safety of the communities in which we serve.

The search and rescue training tower investment is the second training advancement project announced by SFM in the last year. In May 2023, DeWine, Ohio Department of Commerce Director Sherry Maxfield and Reardon announced the creation of an innovative new search and rescue training facility. This residential-style training center provides firefighters and EMS students with a realistic training environment for various rescue scenarios, particularly residential fires. Construction of the search and rescue house project was completed in February.

Submitted by the Ohio Department of Commerce.