A fire training facility received conditional approval from the Marshall County Commissioners on Monday morning.
The site has been in the works for some time, but plans are to move forward with construction for firefighter, police, and EMS training opportunities. The training tower recently received a recommendation from the Marshall County Jail Holding Corporation to host the site on the jail property adjacent to the employee parking lot.
Plymouth Fire Chief Rod Miller says a training site in Plymouth is more comfortable than traveling to Kosciusko County.
“We’ve exercised over in Warsaw, and I’ll be honest with you, it’s a risky business to take too many of our people out of town, even a half hour away,” says Miller.
A site plan has been developed, but some grading and other soil work needs to be completed prior to construction.
Marshall County’s investment is largely limited to approving a place to put the training tower. Liability forms and other protective measures would be handled by the City of Plymouth’s Fire Department.
Smoke produced at the facility was a concern for the Commissioners, especially considering the proposed proximity to the jail’s HVAC system. Miller says the smoke output will be on the minimal side.
“It’s a natural vegetation, and I think the pallet burn is just two pallets at a time,” says Miller. “So you’re talking wood in a natural vegetative state.”
The training site could be used for active shooter trainings that may occur in schools.
The Commissioners gave conditional approval to the site plan on a 2-1 vote. Deb Griewank voted against the proposal.
