By JESSA LEWIS
6 News Reporter
PIGEON FORGE (WATE) - Sevier County continues work on the new 14.2-acre fire training facility. It will allow firefighters to learn from real life fire scenarios without leaving their designated protection area.
Firefighters from all over the county will soon train at the new facility. While it has only one structure now, the building is incredibly versatile.
"We can burn regular propane gas to get that experience in there for out firefighters as well as class A combustibles, such as pallets and straw, to be able to get that heat in there," said Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Tony Watson.
In the long run, the facility will help save money for business and property owners. "It will count toward their ISO points so it will lower their insurance premiums to the community to businesses and residents, so we're very excited about it," Watson added.
Right now, firefighters have to travel outside the county for some training exercises. "We hope this is something we can use even regionally. We host Smoky Mountain weekend, and there's training they can do here for the paid and volunteers for about 400 guys in Sevier County. We're very happy to be able to have this in here," Watson said.
"Classroom is good, videos get some points across, but a lot of the things talked about in class have to be highlighted and reinforced with live fire scenarios," said Pigeon Forge firefighter Andy Latham.
The project isn't complete. Chief Watson says there will be an area where firefighters can train for vehicular fires and classroom space.
The land the training center is on is being leased by the Fire Chief's Association for $1.00 a year from Sevier Solid Waste.
"We can burn regular propane gas to get that experience in there for out firefighters as well as class A combustibles, such as pallets and straw, to be able to get that heat in there," said Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Tony Watson.
