October 1, 2010 > New Fire Training Center in Fremont New Fire Training Center in Fremont By Meenu Gupta Photos By Courtesy of Fremont Fire Department Firefighters are used to working in the heat so it was appropriate that unveiling Fremont's new fire training center occurred during a mini heat wave on Monday, September 27. This new, state-of-the-art Tactical Training Center designed for hands-on experience is located on a two-acre site at the southwestern end of Stevenson Boulevard. It features a 32-person classroom, a five-story fire training tower with various floor plans that resemble a single and multi-family residence, multi-level structures and several rescue training props. The training tower will simulate real-life scenarios, preparing firefighters for all types of blazes and buildings they are likely to encounter on the job. "This is a great facility with different configurations, one side of the is tower designed to look like garden style apartments in Fremont and the other side, commercial," said Fremont Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Ron Maize." The training center, underground trench and props will be used to simulate climbing five stories, going underground to make a rescue- confined space rescue, trench rescue, hazardous materials training," said Maize. The Training Center replaced a 47 year-old training tower located on Grimmer Boulevard. Funding for the new $4 million facility was built with funds from a $51 million Fire Safety Bond approved by Fremont residents November 2002 with 74.4% voter approval. "Measure R was set up to rebuild three fire stations, [build the] training center and seismically retrofit seven fire stations. The new training facility will meet the Fremont Fire Departments training needs over an expected 75 year lifespan.