Rogers City Council approves firefighter training building

ROGERS — The Fire Department has the green light from the City Council to purchase vehicles and a burn building to train firefighters.

The council on Tuesday approved more than $770,000 to construct a burn building at the department’s training center at 3003 W. Oak St.

“We currently have a multi-story still tower that we constructed in 1997,” Fire Chief Tom Jenkins said. “It will remain in use, but we are unable to burn in it. The department has used acquired structures to train in and will continue to do so, but this burn building helps in the safe training of new firefighters by allowing them to learn fire behavior and dynamics in a safe environment. This facility was recommended in our 2016 accreditation cycle.”

The burn building is noncombustible and is designed to not burn down, Deputy Chief William Hyde said at a Finance Committee meeting Tuesday. The department can expect at least 15 years of heavy use out of the building, he said.

“We recognize the need to do more advanced training and this will allow us to do that,” Deputy Chief Bryan Hinds said.

Mayor Greg Hines said while new firefighters can practice at controlled burns of other structures, those situations are still dangerous and new firefighters could lose their lives. Fires in the burn building can easily be put out at any time if something were to go wrong, he said.

The money for the burn building will come out of the $299.5 million bond issue approved by voters in August. The bond included $9.5 million for the Fire Department.

The council also approved spending more than $3.3 million for five Fire Department vehicles — three pumper apparatus vehicles, one ladder truck and one heavy rescue truck.

The vehicles will replace trucks at various fire stations and are on the department’s standard replacement cycle, Jenkins said.

The council unanimously approved both items with council member Clay Kendall absent from the meeting.

Tuesday also marked council member Buddy Wright’s last meeting on the council after 16 years. He didn’t seek re-election, and Mandy McDonald Brashear will assume the Ward 1, Position 1 seat in January.

Hines and the council members all thanked Wright for his service, and Wright thanked Rogers residents.

“Any recognition that’s given is given to all of you. Thank you very much,” he said.