By Melissa Chavez
The Tribune
PASO ROBLES, Calif. — Paso Robles firefighters and police have a new local training center where they can practice emergency responses and train alongside public safety agencies from throughout the region.
The city opened the Paso Robles Public Safety Training Center at 2924 Union Road on Friday with a ribbon-cutting and a live-fire demonstration that simulated a residential fire response.
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The facility addresses a longstanding training need for the city and is designed to provide controlled, realistic scenarios for fire, rescue, emergency medical and law enforcement training.
City planning documents also identify use-of-force and defensive-tactics training, specialized courses and certifications among its intended uses.
Having a dedicated facility also allows more required training to take place locally.
The city previously said sending firefighters elsewhere for live-fire instruction was cost-prohibitive and that the lack of a dedicated training site made meeting training requirements difficult.
The center is also intended as a regional training hub, allowing public safety agencies that respond together during wildfires, major crashes and other emergencies to train together before those incidents occur.
The training center is part of the city’s larger Union Road public safety site.
Fire Station 3 opened at the same address in December 2023, with the training center developed as a later phase.
The center was funded primarily through the city’s voter-approved Measure J-20 sales tax.
Rep. Jimmy Panetta secured an additional $500,000 in federal Community Project Funding for construction, according to the city.
During Friday’s ceremony, firefighters demonstrated the new facility by setting a controlled fire on the second floor of the training structure and responding with an engine and crew.
Deputy Fire Chief Jay Enns explained the exercise to community members and first responders attending the event.
Panetta and Assemblymember Dawn Addis spoke about regional emergency-response cooperation and referenced the Timber Fire near Big Sur as an example of the need for regional training resources.
Fire Chief Jonathan Stornetta presented a plaque to Panetta and the Paso Robles City Council recognizing their roles in developing the center.
Panetta and Council member Steve Gregory then cut the ceremonial ribbon using portable “jaws of life” cutters.
Emergency responders and representatives from fire agencies throughout San Luis Obispo County attended the opening, according to the city.
Residents will have an opportunity to weigh in on the future of Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services during a community workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 22 , at the Public Safety Center, 900 Park St.
The city is seeking input for the department’s 2027-32 Strategic Plan, including priorities involving emergency response, emergency medical services, disaster preparedness, prevention, training and facilities.
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