Public Safety · North Las Vegas
North Las Vegas Fire Department opens its first dedicated training center after nearly nine years in the making
The North Las Vegas Fire Department has opened its first training center, with live-fire space, classrooms and an ambulance simulator, so its firefighters no longer have to train elsewhere, KTNV reported.
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What happened
The North Las Vegas Fire Department has opened its first-ever training center, KTNV reported. Officials said the facility was nearly nine years in the making and is meant to prepare both new recruits and experienced firefighters for emergencies.
Fire Chief Joseph Calhoun described the center as an investment in the department's firefighters. "This facility is an investment in you," he told them, according to KTNV.
What the new center includes
KTNV reported that the facility combines outdoor and indoor training space. The center is designed to let firefighters practice responding to situations they could face on emergency calls.
Outdoor and live-fire space
The site has about six acres of outdoor training space. That includes an area set aside for live-fire training, according to KTNV.
Classrooms and an ambulance simulator
Indoors, the center has more than 5,000 square feet of classroom space. It also includes an ambulance simulator, KTNV reported.
Why the department says it matters
Until now, North Las Vegas firefighters had to train elsewhere, according to KTNV. Calhoun said having a dedicated facility will let the department train recruits from the start of their careers while also giving veteran firefighters a place for continued training.
Training for a growing city
Calhoun said training becomes more important as North Las Vegas keeps growing. "Everything we have here is going to help us to better prepare for what we might see out in the streets," he said, according to KTNV.
Firefighter safety
The chief also tied the center to the safety of his crews. "As a fire chief, I lose a lot of sleep over making sure that my people go home every day," Calhoun said, adding that strong training is the way to make that happen.
A message to firefighters
Speaking to firefighters at the center, Calhoun said the facility belongs to them and gives them the tools, training and environment to perform at a high level. He urged them to keep the stakes of their work in mind every time they use it.
He told them to "train as if lives depend on it," KTNV reported, naming the lives of community members, the firefighters themselves and their fellow firefighters. More coverage of local emergency services is in our public safety section.
What was not reported
KTNV's report did not include the cost of the training center, how it was paid for or its exact location. It also did not say how many recruits are in the first group. Readers following news from their part of the valley can find more in our neighborhoods coverage.
What to watch next
- The department's first group of academy recruits, which KTNV reported was scheduled to begin training at the facility Monday.
- Continued training for veteran firefighters, which Calhoun said the new center will also support.
- Use of the live-fire area and ambulance simulator now that the department has its own place to train instead of training elsewhere.
