By Glen Sovian
The Dallas Morning News

GARLAND, Texas — For Garland firefighters, the long wait for a new headquarters and training center is finally over.

Wednesday was the first day of orientation for new recruits at the state-of-the-art training facility – Garland's first such orientation since its old training center closed in 1992. (Recruits had trained elsewhere for the last 15 years.)

More important, fire officials say, the $17 million complex brings together for the first time units scattered across the city.

"It's very much easier to work in this facility," said Fire Chief Danny Grammer, who has been with the Garland department for 31 years. "I think it's something everybody would benefit from."

The former manufacturing plant site had to be decontaminated in 2005, and construction began a year later. The 20-acre complex on State Highway 66 in East Garland was completed late last year.

A 53,000-square-foot renovated building houses administrative offices, the fire marshal's office, EMS offices, the training division and support services, as well as multiple classrooms and a workout room.

The complex is also home to a 22,000-square-foot training center with a drill tower, burn building, flashover chamber, high-rise apartment and a driving course.

"It's very firefighter-friendly," Chief Grammer said of the design. "We have a tremendous amount of input from firefighters in this department."

A computer-operated propane system allows cleaner and safer fire training simulations, he said.

"It gives our firefighters a lot more pride in their skills because they will have the ability to re-create almost any scenario they can come up with," said Raymond Knight, assistant fire chief of administration, who oversees training.

The training center will complement the modern firefighting equipment the city has purchased over the years.

"We're very fortunate that the city management put an emphasis on public safety," said Chief Grammer. The chief said he has seen fire departments across the country and not one "has the quality of things that Garland has."

Mayor Ronald Jones credited present and past city managers and City Councils for their commitment to fire safety and prevention.

"It's well worth the cost," he said. Residents "can be assured that we have the equipment, we have the resources, and we have the will to respond to provide maximum safety," Mr. Jones said.

Almost 90 percent of the department's 265 personnel are trained for dual roles as firefighters and paramedics.

Eleven strategically located stations allow crews to respond to an emergency anywhere in the city within five minutes.

Over the years, the investment in fire prevention has paid off.

"Garland routinely, year after year, has the lowest amount of fire loss in the metroplex," Chief Grammer said, referring to the area's 10 largest cities. "And all I can attribute that to is the hard work of these firefighters."

The department offers regular training not only of its own firefighters but also of those from the surrounding communities.

This week, 18 recruits, half of them from outside Garland, will begin five months of basic training in preparation for the state proficiency exam.

"We begin a process of making them firefighters," said Chief Knight, a 28-year firefighting veteran. "Historically, it takes quite a bit to get them trained."

Chief Grammer expects the new training center to eventually host regional firefighting classes for the National Fire Academy.

"We'd like to see this facility used as a focal point of this whole area for fire training," he said.

Copyright 2008 The Dallas Morning News
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