SJFD working with 139th Airlift Wing to develop new joint training facility

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Local officials are joining efforts to take fire training to the next level in St. Joseph.

Members of the St. Joseph Fire Department and the 139th Airlift Wing are working to develop a new joint training facility that will be utilized by both city firefighters and firefighters with the 139th.

"The opportunity for training new recruits and our current firefighters is going to be huge," said Kurt Fuehrer, chief training officer with SJFD. "And the air base is a big part of this community."

The plan is for the facility to be located at the Air National Guard base pending the outcome of a grant submitted by the city this July. City Councilmembers approved a resolution on Monday, Aug. 4, to apply for the Military Community Reinvestment Grant through the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

If awarded, the city intends to contribute $120,000 in matching funds to purchase a $240,000 modular fire training simulator, a large structure that provides realistic live fire training scenarios for firefighters.

Often built with durable, weather-resistant materials like steel and concrete, modular training systems can be configured in various layouts and sizes to simulate different fire scenarios and building types, often incorporating features like adjustable burn rooms, interior and exterior access points and safety systems to ensure a controlled and effective training environment.

"The (139th) brings in an aircraft training prop, and it probably costs them about $20,000 every time they do it," Fuehrer said. "To get something permanent over there that they could use and we could use would be big."