Regional Fire Training Centre Opened, Strengthening Firefighting Preparedness for County and City of Grande Prairie, and MD of Greenview

Joint Media Release - The County Regional Fire Service, in partnership with the City of Grande Prairie and Municipal District (MD) of Greenview, made a significant step in enhancing regional emergency preparedness with a state-of-the-art Fire Training Centre. The grand opening of the new facility took place at the County Dunes Fire Station yesterday, Wednesday, October 30, 2024. This project was also made possible through the support of corporate sponsors TC Energy and Pembina Pipeline Corporation.

In 2019, County Council supported replacing the former aging regional training facility with new infrastructure, including a cleaner-burning propane structure. Collaboration with the MD of Greenview and the City of Grande Prairie highlighted the immense value of partnering on this critical initiative, further strengthening the long-standing relationship between the three municipalities' fire services and their history of mutual aid and shared training efforts.

In addition to enhancing firefighting preparedness, the new facility offers significant cost savings and operational efficiencies for all three municipalities. By conducting training locally, the need for costly travel to distant locations is eliminated, allowing firefighters to remain within the region and reduce time away from their regular duties. This approach ensures that high-quality, hands-on training can be provided on an ongoing basis, keeping teams ready to respond quickly and effectively while maximizing resource efficiency.

"This new training centre will profoundly impact the entire region," says County Fire Chief Trevor Grant. "Our firefighters will have access to advanced, hands-on training to facilitate rapid and effective emergency response. Improving our capabilities is an improvement to community safety."

"This new facility represents a major advancement in our ability to prepare for emergency response, said City of Grande Prairie Fire Chief, Mark VanWerkhoven. "The cutting-edge training opportunities now available to our firefighters will sharpen their skills and strengthen their readiness to respond to a wide range of incidents. By working closely with our regional partners, we are building a safer future for our communities, ensuring that our crews are trained to the highest standard."

"Partnering with the County of Grande Prairie and the City of Grande Prairie for this state-of-the-art Live Fire Training facility will provide Greenview Fire-Rescue Service firefighters with access to safe, valuable, and essential training while strengthening Greenview's regional partnerships" stated Greenview Regional Fire Chief Wayne Brown.

The grand opening event featured tours of the burn facility and live firefighting training demonstrations.

"The opening of this state-of-the-art Fire Training Centre is a testament to the strength of regional partnerships," said City of Grande Prairie Mayor, Jackie Clayton. "By collaborating with the County of Grande Prairie and the MD of Greenview, we are able to ensure that our firefighters are equipped with the best training available, which ultimately enhances the safety and well-being of all our residents. This project is a prime example of what we can achieve when we work together to serve our communities."

"Our regional partnership with the County of Grande Prairie and the City of Grande Prairie has brought many benefits, including improvements to municipal fire service departments" highlighted Greenview Reeve Tyler Olsen. "Providing local firefighters with the opportunity to train close to home; in a realistic and safe environment allows them to better understand and recognize critical conditions for effective decision-making."