Nanaimo's live fire training centre near the public works yard on Labieux Rd. is set for a refit to continue the multi-faceted training available local firefighters. (submitted photos/City of Nanaimo)

By Alex Rawnsley

FIRE RESCUE

Nanaimo’s live fire training centre to get $275k refit

Jul 23, 2021 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — A vital piece of training infrastructure for firefighters across the mid-Island is due to get a refit.

City Council’s finance and audit committee approved $275,300 in remediation funding for the three storey building during their meeting on Wednesday, July 21.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue deputy chief Geoff Whiting told NanaimoNewsNOW the facility is a crucial part to their year-round efforts to stay on top of training and education.

“The job entails lots of different things but going into fires is one of the dangerous aspects. (This facility) has enabled us to train our crews in new fire dynamics, tactics and sciences come out so they get regular practice and training in fighting fires.”

Work required in the building, which was built in 1985, includes repairing sections of concrete, covering exposed steel, replacing loose heat resistant panels and repairing damaged doors and windows.

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The facility can be used to simulate rope rescues, search and rescues and a wide variety of situations, in addition to a full scope of challenging fires.

“We can simulate a fire in a high rise building by using the stairwell and lighting a fire on the third floor, we can simulate a basement fire by lighting a fire on the first floor and attacking it from the second floor down.”

The committee looked at some other options, including not repairing the building and shifting training to other facilities out of Nanaimo.

It was quickly shot down as an option as the strain on resources would be too great.

Whiting said a City-owned facility in the heart of the region means they can train daily and still be ready to respond to emergency situations.

“When we do actual live fire training, we usually take crews out of service to do it but it can be done on a day that crew is working. (This facility) allows us to train a lot more because we can train while crews are working on duty, we don’t have to take them out of service, we don’t have to bring people in on overtime.”

It would also cost $104,700 in training fees and staff coverage for one live fire session per year, half what Nanaimo firefighters typically do in a year.

The estimated cost of a new facility would be around $1.8 million, while a modified, mobile centre would cost approximately $880,700.

Some of the costs to upgrade the current training centre will be recouped by renting it to other fire departments for their own training.

The Nanaimo facility of one of just three of its kind on Vancouver Island along side Comox and Esquimalt.

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alex.rawnsley@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley