New Firefighter Training Facility

Firefighters from all over Louisiana could soon be coming to the Ark-La-Tex, thanks to the new LSU Fire and Emergency Training Center. Director Jeff Gleason says its the latest addition to the universities Fire and Emergency Training Institute "To accommodate especially for the volunteers, so they dont have to travel down to LSU in Baton Rouge," said Gleason. About 80 percent of the firefighters in Louisiana are volunteers and often tight budgets restrict them from going out of town for training. But at the new facility, emergency workers can get the hands-on training they need for free "Basic fire training to industrial fire training... Were looking at the possibility of bringing our rescue program up here and doing collapse rescue training," said Gleason. The new state of the art facility is located at Camp Minden. Students there will experience different types of real-life emergency situations all in a controlled environment. Regional Instructor Nick Palmer hopes to see the program expand over time. "Hopefully in the future well have a rookie academy like Shreveport or Bossier has," said Palmer. Pine Country Education district is leasing the 33 acre property to LSU. And funding for the program comes from a loan and money provided by the state. So in order for the program to expand, Palmer says theyre relying on support from the community. "The more support we have, the more students we can bring in... the more training we can do... The more we can go to the government and say... Hey we need more funding." Classes are scheduled to begin Monday March 26. For more information call 318-371-3385.